Understanding who lives in your county and how that population is changing can be an important tool when planning for your county’s future. Demographic data can help county leaders anticipate local changes in the workforce, needed services and the tax base.
One of Kentucky’s most informative demographic measures is the age of its population.
A growing population of young families may create new demands for infrastructure and public services. An aging population may increase demand for EMS, transportation and senior services while slowing growth in the working-age population.
Those trends also have fiscal implications. The number of people working and the wages they earn can affect occupational tax collections. Population and property values influence the property tax base. Business growth, commuting patterns and household income all contribute to a county's overall economic capacity.
No single demographic measure predicts a county's future. Taken together, however, they provide county officials with valuable information for budgeting, economic development and long-term planning.
Median age
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the median age in the United States is 38.9 years. In Kentucky, the median age is approximately 39.1 years, placing the Commonwealth slightly above the national median.
Median age represents the midpoint of the population: half of residents are younger than the median age and half are older. While the difference between Kentucky and the nation may appear small, statewide figures can mask much larger differences among individual communities.
Kentucky’s age profile varies considerably from county to county. Some counties have relatively young populations, which can be influenced by universities, growing employment centers, military installations or larger numbers of young families. Others have median ages well into the 40s, reflecting an aging population and, in some cases, the loss of younger residents to other parts of Kentucky or other states.
Christian County has Kentucky’s lowest median age at 28.8 years, making it the only county in the state with a median age below 30. The next four youngest counties are Rowan (31.7), Warren (33.3), Madison (34.7) and Whitley (35.2).
At the other end of the range, Owsley County has the highest median age at 47.7, followed by Lyon (47.1), Menifee (46.2), Trigg (45.8), and Livingston and Edmonson counties (both 45.6).
Population under age 18 and over 65
Median age reveals only one piece of Kentucky’s demographic picture. Looking at the concentration of children under age 18 and adults age 65 and older offers additional insight into the different demographic pressures facing counties.
An estimated 17.3% of Kentuckians are age 65 or older.
Hickman County has the largest concentration of residents age 65 and older, at 25.2% of its population. Lyon (24.6%), Menifee (23.4%), Cumberland (22.7%) and Marshall (22.6%) round out the five counties with the largest shares of residents age 65 and older.
Christian County has the smallest share of residents age 65 and older, at just 12.7%. Warren (13.2%) and Scott (13.4%) are the only other Kentucky counties where less than 14% of the population is age 65 or older.
At the other end of the age spectrum, an estimated 22.6% of Kentuckians are under age 18.
Christian County has the largest share of residents under 18 at 28.3%, followed by Todd (27.0%), Carroll (26.6%), Robertson (26.6%) and Grant (26.5%).
Lyon County has the smallest share of residents under age 18 at 13.6%, followed by Elliott (17.0%), Edmonson (18.0%), Lee (18.1%) and Calloway (18.2%).
Together, these measures illustrate how different Kentucky’s demographic picture can look from one county to another. A county with a relatively young population may be preparing for growth in its workforce and demand for services used by families, while a county with a large older population may be planning for a smaller workforce and increased demand for services associated with aging.
For county officials, understanding those differences is less about whether a population is “young” or “old” and more about recognizing how the people who live in a community today may shape its needs and its resources in the years ahead.
All data are U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates.
