Rowan County, Kentucky Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 46th-largest in Kentucky

The population of Rowan County, Kentucky is 24,525 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 46th-largest county in Kentucky. The median household income is $53,657, the median home value is $155,900, and the median age is 31.2.

The population of Rowan County has grown 5.6% since 2010 (23,376 → 24,675), a +0.39% annualized rate.

Rowan County within Kentucky · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

24,525

Population

+0.39%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$53,657

Median Income

$155,900

Median Home Value

Rowan County covers 280 sq mi of land at 87.6 people per square mile.

About Rowan County, KY

Rowan County is a county in Kentucky with a population of 24,525. It ranks #46 among counties in Kentucky by population. The median age is 31.2, younger than the national median. The population is 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

The median household income in Rowan County is $53,657, below the US median of $74,580. 16.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $155,900, with monthly rent averaging $815. The homeownership rate of 63.1% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Rowan County reflects 27.0% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 7.3% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 22.9 minutes each way.

Rowan County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Rowan County had a population of 23,376 in 2010 and 24,675 in 2024, a 5.6% growth over 14 years. The peak was 24,721 in 2020. Average annual growth rate: 0.39%.

24,675

Population (2024)

23,376

Population (2010)

24,721

Peak (2020)

0.39%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	23,376	-	-	estimate
2011	23,564	+188	+0.80%	estimate
2012	23,808	+244	+1.04%	estimate
2013	24,225	+417	+1.75%	estimate
2014	24,267	+42	+0.17%	estimate
2015	24,658	+391	+1.61%	estimate
2016	24,436	-222	-0.90%	estimate
2017	24,546	+110	+0.45%	estimate
2018	24,488	-58	-0.24%	estimate
2019	24,519	+31	+0.13%	estimate
2020	24,721	+202	+0.82%	estimate
2021	24,565	-156	-0.63%	estimate
2022	24,428	-137	-0.56%	estimate
2023	24,503	+75	+0.31%	estimate
2024	24,675	+172	+0.70%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	95.3%
Black or African American	1.8%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	0.8%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

31.2

Median Age

51.6%

Female

48.4%

Male

14.2%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.4%

5–9

4.6%

10–14

6.1%

15–19

10.7%

20–24

14.3%

25–34

13.0%

35–44

10.3%

45–54

10.6%

55–59

5.8%

60–64

5.1%

65–74

8.4%

75–84

4.3%

85+

1.5%

Children (under 15): 16.1% · Seniors (65+): 14.2%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$53,657$-8,760 vs state
Mean household income	$78,365
Per-capita income	$30,257
Poverty rate	16.1%+4.3% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.5%
Employment-to-population	54.8%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

39.7%

Manufacturing

9.3%

Education & health care

8.6%

Construction

6.3%

Retail trade

6.2%

Finance & real estate

5.7%

Public administration

3.9%

Arts, entertainment & food

3.4%

The largest employment sector in Rowan County is professional & business services, accounting for 39.7% of workers.

How residents commute

0.8%

Drive alone

6.9%

Carpool

75.2%

Public transit

7.3%

Work from home

22.9 min

Avg commute

Housing

$155,900$-36,400 vs state

Median home value

$815

Median rent

63.1%

Homeownership rate

10,577

Total housing units

88.4%

Occupied

11.6%

Vacant

36.9%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

94.3%

With health insurance

93.5%

With broadband internet

22.7%

Foreign-born

5.3%

Veterans (18+)

17.0%

With a disability

97.0%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

87.3%

High School+

27.0%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Kentucky

Louisville/Jefferson County (627,210)Lexington-Fayette (321,122)Bowling Green (73,638)Owensboro (60,112)Covington (40,902)Georgetown (38,206)Richmond (35,498)Florence (32,334)Elizabethtown (31,870)Nicholasville (31,625)All Kentucky cities →

Other counties in Kentucky

Jefferson County (777,392)Fayette County (321,122)Kenton County (169,817)Boone County (137,676)Warren County (137,549)Hardin County (111,452)Daviess County (103,195)Madison County (94,064)Campbell County (93,193)Bullitt County (83,209)All Kentucky counties →

Part of Kentucky

Kentucky demographic profile All Kentucky data →

Metro areas in Kentucky

Cincinnati (2,255,257)Louisville/Jefferson County (1,361,847)Lexington (517,378)Huntington (372,801)Clarksville (328,626)Bowling Green (183,194)Elizabethtown (126,480)Owensboro (112,322)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Rowan County, Kentucky has a population of 24,525 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 46th-largest county in Kentucky. Population density is 88 people per square mile.

The population of Rowan County has grown 5.6% since 2010 (23,376 → 24,675), a +0.39% annualized rate.

The median household income in Rowan County, Kentucky is $53,657, with mean (average) household income of $78,365 and per-capita income of $30,257. 16.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Rowan County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (95.3%), Black or African American (1.8%), Hispanic or Latino (0.8%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Rowan County, Kentucky is 31.2 years. Residents are 51.6% female and 48.4% male.

The median home value in Rowan County is $155,900 and median monthly rent is $815. 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 10,577 total housing units, 11.6% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Rowan County, Kentucky is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 39.7% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

Louisville/Jefferson County is among the largest cities associated with Rowan County, Kentucky, with a population of 627,210.