Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Kentucky

Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

McCreary County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 120 counties in 2024, at 38.9%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 4.3%. The median was 18.1% and the figure for Kentucky was 16.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest38.9McCreary County
Lowest4.3Oldham County
Median18.1120 counties
Kentucky16.1History

Map of counties, 2024

Adair County: 18.4 %Allen County: 13.5 %Anderson County: 11.5 %Ballard County: 15 %Barren County: 19.4 %Bath County: 25.3 %Bell County: 28.8 %Boone County: 6.3 %Bourbon County: 14.2 %Boyd County: 17 %Boyle County: 15.6 %Bracken County: 19.5 %Breathitt County: 33.1 %Breckinridge County: 21.4 %Bullitt County: 9.7 %Butler County: 20.5 %Caldwell County: 15.2 %Calloway County: 17.2 %Campbell County: 11.1 %Carlisle County: 15.1 %Carroll County: 23.1 %Carter County: 19.2 %Casey County: 21.7 %Christian County: 17.1 %Clark County: 14.6 %Clay County: 32.4 %Clinton County: 17.5 %Crittenden County: 17.7 %Cumberland County: 24.8 %Daviess County: 14.7 %Edmonson County: 15.3 %Elliott County: 25.1 %Estill County: 20.7 %Fayette County: 14.9 %Fleming County: 21.2 %Floyd County: 28.1 %Franklin County: 13.6 %Fulton County: 22.6 %Gallatin County: 13.8 %Garrard County: 15.9 %Grant County: 11.7 %Graves County: 19.9 %Grayson County: 20.1 %Green County: 20.4 %Greenup County: 15.4 %Hancock County: 16.3 %Hardin County: 13.1 %Harlan County: 27.4 %Harrison County: 17.1 %Hart County: 19.3 %Henderson County: 14.6 %Henry County: 16.4 %Hickman County: 20.5 %Hopkins County: 20 %Jackson County: 19.5 %Jefferson County: 14.3 %Jessamine County: 11.3 %Johnson County: 22.8 %Kenton County: 11.9 %Knott County: 23.3 %Knox County: 36.9 %Larue County: 17.9 %Laurel County: 20.5 %Lawrence County: 21.8 %Lee County: 27.4 %Leslie County: 30.3 %Letcher County: 24.4 %Lewis County: 22 %Lincoln County: 16.3 %Livingston County: 19.3 %Logan County: 16.8 %Lyon County: 9.5 %McCracken County: 15.2 %McCreary County: 38.9 %McLean County: 9.5 %Madison County: 15.1 %Magoffin County: 38.2 %Marion County: 17 %Marshall County: 12.3 %Martin County: 33.2 %Mason County: 18.8 %Meade County: 12.2 %Menifee County: 26.9 %Mercer County: 10.7 %Metcalfe County: 27.5 %Monroe County: 22.1 %Montgomery County: 15.4 %Morgan County: 17.1 %Muhlenberg County: 18.4 %Nelson County: 10.9 %Nicholas County: 17.6 %Ohio County: 12.5 %Oldham County: 4.3 %Owen County: 18.3 %Owsley County: 36.2 %Pendleton County: 15.9 %Perry County: 26.8 %Pike County: 24.4 %Powell County: 22.5 %Pulaski County: 19.7 %Robertson County: 21.1 %Rockcastle County: 25.6 %Rowan County: 24.2 %Russell County: 23.1 %Scott County: 10.6 %Shelby County: 9.7 %Simpson County: 15.6 %Spencer County: 9.8 %Taylor County: 17.5 %Todd County: 20.9 %Trigg County: 20.6 %Trimble County: 13.3 %Union County: 18.4 %Warren County: 17 %Washington County: 12.8 %Wayne County: 24.8 %Webster County: 13.5 %Whitley County: 26.3 %Wolfe County: 37.7 %Woodford County: 10.5 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

McCreary County: 38.9 %McCreary County38.9Magoffin County: 38.2 %Magoffin County38.2Wolfe County: 37.7 %Wolfe County37.7Knox County: 36.9 %Knox County36.9Owsley County: 36.2 %Owsley County36.2Martin County: 33.2 %Martin County33.2Breathitt County: 33.1 %Breathitt County33.1Clay County: 32.4 %Clay County32.4Leslie County: 30.3 %Leslie County30.3Bell County: 28.8 %Bell County28.8Floyd County: 28.1 %Floyd County28.1Metcalfe County: 27.5 %Metcalfe County27.5Harlan County: 27.4 %Harlan County27.4Lee County: 27.4 %Lee County27.4Menifee County: 26.9 %Menifee County26.9Perry County: 26.8 %Perry County26.8Whitley County: 26.3 %Whitley County26.3Rockcastle County: 25.6 %Rockcastle County25.6Bath County: 25.3 %Bath County25.3Elliott County: 25.1 %Elliott County25.1Cumberland County: 24.8 %Cumberland County24.8Wayne County: 24.8 %Wayne County24.8Pike County: 24.4 %Pike County24.4Letcher County: 24.4 %Letcher County24.4Rowan County: 24.2 %Rowan County24.2Knott County: 23.3 %Knott County23.3Carroll County: 23.1 %Carroll County23.1Russell County: 23.1 %Russell County23.1Johnson County: 22.8 %Johnson County22.8Fulton County: 22.6 %Fulton County22.6Powell County: 22.5 %Powell County22.5Monroe County: 22.1 %Monroe County22.1Lewis County: 22 %Lewis County22Lawrence County: 21.8 %Lawrence County21.8Casey County: 21.7 %Casey County21.7Breckinridge County: 21.4 %Breckinridge County21.4Fleming County: 21.2 %Fleming County21.2Robertson County: 21.1 %Robertson County21.1Todd County: 20.9 %Todd County20.9Estill County: 20.7 %Estill County20.7McCreary County: 38.9 %McCreary County38.9Magoffin County: 38.2 %Magoffin County38.2Wolfe County: 37.7 %Wolfe County37.7Knox County: 36.9 %Knox County36.9Owsley County: 36.2 %Owsley County36.2Martin County: 33.2 %Martin County33.2Breathitt County: 33.1 %Breathitt County33.1Clay County: 32.4 %Clay County32.4Leslie County: 30.3 %Leslie County30.3Bell County: 28.8 %Bell County28.8Floyd County: 28.1 %Floyd County28.1Metcalfe County: 27.5 %Metcalfe County27.5Harlan County: 27.4 %Harlan County27.4Lee County: 27.4 %Lee County27.4Menifee County: 26.9 %Menifee County26.9Perry County: 26.8 %Perry County26.8Whitley County: 26.3 %Whitley County26.3Rockcastle County: 25.6 %Rockcastle County25.6Bath County: 25.3 %Bath County25.3Elliott County: 25.1 %Elliott County25.1Cumberland County: 24.8 %Cumberland County24.8Wayne County: 24.8 %Wayne County24.8Pike County: 24.4 %Pike County24.4Letcher County: 24.4 %Letcher County24.4Rowan County: 24.2 %Rowan County24.2Knott County: 23.3 %Knott County23.3Carroll County: 23.1 %Carroll County23.1Russell County: 23.1 %Russell County23.1Johnson County: 22.8 %Johnson County22.8Fulton County: 22.6 %Fulton County22.6Powell County: 22.5 %Powell County22.5Monroe County: 22.1 %Monroe County22.1Lewis County: 22 %Lewis County22Lawrence County: 21.8 %Lawrence County21.8Casey County: 21.7 %Casey County21.7Breckinridge County: 21.4 %Breckinridge County21.4Fleming County: 21.2 %Fleming County21.2Robertson County: 21.1 %Robertson County21.1Todd County: 20.9 %Todd County20.9Estill County: 20.7 %Estill County20.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1McCreary County38.9+3.7 pts
2Magoffin County38.2+4.8 pts
3Wolfe County37.7-0.4 pts
4Knox County36.9+0.2 pts
5Owsley County36.2+11.3 pts
6Martin County33.2+4 pts
7Breathitt County33.1+5 pts
8Clay County32.4+0.6 pts
9Leslie County30.3+3 pts
10Bell County28.8+1.7 pts
11Floyd County28.1+1.4 pts
12Metcalfe County27.5+1.9 pts
13Harlan County27.4+0.1 pts
14Lee County27.4-1.5 pts
15Menifee County26.9-1.2 pts
16Perry County26.8+1.3 pts
17Whitley County26.3+1.3 pts
18Rockcastle County25.6+1.3 pts
19Bath County25.3+1.8 pts
20Elliott County25.1-2 pts
21Cumberland County24.8-9.1 pts
22Wayne County24.8+0.4 pts
23Pike County24.4-0.7 pts
24Letcher County24.4-2.4 pts
25Rowan County24.2-0.3 pts
26Knott County23.3-2.6 pts
27Carroll County23.1+4.2 pts
28Russell County23.1-0.3 pts
29Johnson County22.8-0.6 pts
30Fulton County22.6-3.1 pts
31Powell County22.5+0.7 pts
32Monroe County22.1-0.1 pts
33Lewis County22-0.6 pts
34Lawrence County21.8-0.2 pts
35Casey County21.7-2.7 pts
36Breckinridge County21.40 pts
37Fleming County21.2-1.8 pts
38Robertson County21.1-6.3 pts
39Todd County20.9-0.8 pts
40Estill County20.7-1.2 pts
41Trigg County20.6+0.2 pts
42Butler County20.5+1.9 pts
43Hickman County20.5-0.3 pts
44Laurel County20.5-0.8 pts
45Green County20.4-1.1 pts
46Grayson County20.1+0.8 pts
47Hopkins County20+0.8 pts
48Graves County19.9-0.7 pts
49Pulaski County19.7-0.6 pts
50Bracken County19.5-0.6 pts
51Jackson County19.5-3.6 pts
52Barren County19.4-1.7 pts
53Hart County19.3-1.9 pts
54Livingston County19.3+0.4 pts
55Carter County19.2-0.4 pts
56Mason County18.8+0.4 pts
57Union County18.4+1.1 pts
58Adair County18.4+0.4 pts
59Muhlenberg County18.4+0.6 pts
60Owen County18.3+1.1 pts
61Larue County17.9-1 pts
62Crittenden County17.7-0.4 pts
63Nicholas County17.6-0.9 pts
64Clinton County17.5-1 pts
65Taylor County17.5+0.8 pts
66Calloway County17.2-0 pts
67Harrison County17.1+0.8 pts
68Christian County17.1-0.1 pts
69Morgan County17.1-1.1 pts
70Warren County17+0.2 pts
71Marion County17-2.5 pts
72Boyd County17-0.8 pts
73Logan County16.8+2.7 pts
74Henry County16.4-0.2 pts
75Lincoln County16.3-2.3 pts
76Hancock County16.3+0.4 pts
77Garrard County15.9-1.1 pts
78Pendleton County15.9+1.6 pts
79Boyle County15.6+1.4 pts
80Simpson County15.6+0.4 pts
81Greenup County15.4+0.3 pts
82Montgomery County15.4+0.2 pts
83Edmonson County15.3-1.5 pts
84McCracken County15.2-0.2 pts
85Caldwell County15.2+1.3 pts
86Carlisle County15.1-1.6 pts
87Madison County15.1-0.8 pts
88Ballard County15+1.2 pts
89Fayette County14.9-0.8 pts
90Daviess County14.7-0.5 pts
91Henderson County14.6-0.8 pts
92Clark County14.6+1.6 pts
93Jefferson County14.3-0.2 pts
94Bourbon County14.2+0.6 pts
95Gallatin County13.8-0.6 pts
96Franklin County13.6+0.2 pts
97Webster County13.5-0.4 pts
98Allen County13.5-1.6 pts
99Trimble County13.3+0.1 pts
100Hardin County13.1+1.4 pts
101Washington County12.8+0.2 pts
102Ohio County12.5-0.5 pts
103Marshall County12.3-1.1 pts
104Meade County12.2-1.5 pts
105Kenton County11.9-0.1 pts
106Grant County11.7-0.5 pts
107Anderson County11.5-1 pts
108Jessamine County11.3+0.8 pts
109Campbell County11.1+0.3 pts
110Nelson County10.9+1.1 pts
111Mercer County10.7-0.7 pts
112Scott County10.6+0.1 pts
113Woodford County10.5+0.5 pts
114Spencer County9.8+2.5 pts
115Bullitt County9.7+0.2 pts
115Shelby County9.7+1.1 pts
117Lyon County9.5-1.1 pts
118McLean County9.5+0.2 pts
119Boone County6.3-0.3 pts
120Oldham County4.3+0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Kentucky by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

McCreary County, with 38.9% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Oldham County, with 4.3% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Kentucky: more rankings