Poverty Rate in Kentucky
ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
Poverty Rate
16.1% +27.5% vs nat'l
Rank #47 of 52
How Kentucky Compares
Kentucky
16.1%
National
12.6%
27.5% above
State Ranking
| Rank | State | Value |
|---|---|---|
| #44 | District of Columbia | 15.4% |
| #45 | Alabama | 15.6% |
| #46 | Arkansas | 16.0% |
| #47 | Kentucky | 16.1% |
| #48 | West Virginia | 16.7% |
| #49 | New Mexico | 17.8% |
| #50 | Mississippi | 18.9% |
Highest Poverty Counties in Kentucky
| # | County | Poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oldham County | 4.3% |
| 2 | Boone County | 6.3% |
| 3 | McLean County | 9.5% |
| 4 | Lyon County | 9.5% |
| 5 | Bullitt County | 9.7% |
| 6 | Shelby County | 9.7% |
| 7 | Spencer County | 9.8% |
| 8 | Woodford County | 10.5% |
| 9 | Scott County | 10.6% |
| 10 | Mercer County | 10.7% |
Lowest Poverty Counties in Kentucky
| # | County | Poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | McCreary County | 38.9% |
| 119 | Magoffin County | 38.2% |
| 118 | Wolfe County | 37.7% |
| 117 | Knox County | 36.9% |
| 116 | Owsley County | 36.1% |
| 115 | Martin County | 33.2% |
| 114 | Breathitt County | 33.1% |
| 113 | Clay County | 32.4% |
| 112 | Leslie County | 30.3% |
| 111 | Bell County | 28.8% |
Poverty Rate in Kentucky
Kentucky has a poverty rate of 16.1%, ranking #47 of 52 among all 52 states and territories. This is 27.5% above the national value of 12.6%.
Across Kentucky's 120 counties, poverty rate ranges from 38.9% to 4.3%. The county with the highest value is Oldham County at 4.3%.
Percentage of the population living below the federal poverty line.
About this data
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). All values are estimates derived from survey samples and are subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.