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

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

Wolfe County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 120 counties in 2021, at 34.6%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 4.2%. The median was 18.4% and the figure for Kentucky was 16.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest34.6Wolfe County
Lowest4.2Oldham County
Median18.4120 counties
Kentucky16.3History

Map of counties, 2021

Adair County: 18.2 %Allen County: 18.4 %Anderson County: 13.7 %Ballard County: 14 %Barren County: 23.6 %Bath County: 22.5 %Bell County: 28.3 %Boone County: 6.1 %Bourbon County: 13.7 %Boyd County: 17.6 %Boyle County: 14.5 %Bracken County: 18.4 %Breathitt County: 31.3 %Breckinridge County: 19.5 %Bullitt County: 10.2 %Butler County: 18.2 %Caldwell County: 14.7 %Calloway County: 18.4 %Campbell County: 12.2 %Carlisle County: 19.7 %Carroll County: 24.3 %Carter County: 30.2 %Casey County: 24.9 %Christian County: 17 %Clark County: 14.1 %Clay County: 33.6 %Clinton County: 22.9 %Crittenden County: 15.2 %Cumberland County: 24.9 %Daviess County: 14.8 %Edmonson County: 16.9 %Elliott County: 25.4 %Estill County: 25.7 %Fayette County: 15.7 %Fleming County: 15.6 %Floyd County: 29 %Franklin County: 13.3 %Fulton County: 25.2 %Gallatin County: 18.1 %Garrard County: 14.5 %Grant County: 12.8 %Graves County: 18.5 %Grayson County: 23.7 %Green County: 22.1 %Greenup County: 14.8 %Hancock County: 13.1 %Hardin County: 11.3 %Harlan County: 33.6 %Harrison County: 16.9 %Hart County: 21.9 %Henderson County: 16.4 %Henry County: 17.4 %Hickman County: 20.4 %Hopkins County: 20 %Jackson County: 28.3 %Jefferson County: 13.7 %Jessamine County: 12.6 %Johnson County: 20.5 %Kenton County: 11.9 %Knott County: 29.5 %Knox County: 34.5 %Larue County: 16.1 %Laurel County: 22.2 %Lawrence County: 26.1 %Lee County: 30 %Leslie County: 34.6 %Letcher County: 31.2 %Lewis County: 27 %Lincoln County: 18.9 %Livingston County: 16.8 %Logan County: 18 %Lyon County: 10.1 %McCracken County: 15.1 %McCreary County: 30 %McLean County: 10.8 %Madison County: 16 %Magoffin County: 29 %Marion County: 19.9 %Marshall County: 11.7 %Martin County: 22.4 %Mason County: 16.3 %Meade County: 13.1 %Menifee County: 26.4 %Mercer County: 12 %Metcalfe County: 21.2 %Monroe County: 24.3 %Montgomery County: 17.8 %Morgan County: 22.3 %Muhlenberg County: 15.1 %Nelson County: 8.1 %Nicholas County: 19.3 %Ohio County: 15.5 %Oldham County: 4.2 %Owen County: 15.4 %Owsley County: 27.7 %Pendleton County: 18.8 %Perry County: 21.5 %Pike County: 25.6 %Powell County: 18.6 %Pulaski County: 23 %Robertson County: 22.9 %Rockcastle County: 21.2 %Rowan County: 25.4 %Russell County: 23 %Scott County: 10.2 %Shelby County: 9.4 %Simpson County: 12.5 %Spencer County: 6.6 %Taylor County: 14.8 %Todd County: 21.5 %Trigg County: 17.4 %Trimble County: 14.3 %Union County: 18.8 %Warren County: 16.7 %Washington County: 13.7 %Wayne County: 22.5 %Webster County: 16.7 %Whitley County: 21.6 %Wolfe County: 34.6 %Woodford County: 7.3 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Wolfe County: 34.6 %Wolfe County34.6Leslie County: 34.6 %Leslie County34.6Knox County: 34.5 %Knox County34.5Harlan County: 33.6 %Harlan County33.6Clay County: 33.6 %Clay County33.6Breathitt County: 31.3 %Breathitt County31.3Letcher County: 31.2 %Letcher County31.2Carter County: 30.2 %Carter County30.2McCreary County: 30 %McCreary County30Lee County: 30 %Lee County30Knott County: 29.5 %Knott County29.5Magoffin County: 29 %Magoffin County29Floyd County: 29 %Floyd County29Bell County: 28.3 %Bell County28.3Jackson County: 28.3 %Jackson County28.3Owsley County: 27.7 %Owsley County27.7Lewis County: 27 %Lewis County27Menifee County: 26.4 %Menifee County26.4Lawrence County: 26.1 %Lawrence County26.1Estill County: 25.7 %Estill County25.7Pike County: 25.6 %Pike County25.6Elliott County: 25.4 %Elliott County25.4Rowan County: 25.4 %Rowan County25.4Fulton County: 25.2 %Fulton County25.2Casey County: 24.9 %Casey County24.9Cumberland County: 24.9 %Cumberland County24.9Carroll County: 24.3 %Carroll County24.3Monroe County: 24.3 %Monroe County24.3Grayson County: 23.7 %Grayson County23.7Barren County: 23.6 %Barren County23.6Russell County: 23 %Russell County23Pulaski County: 23 %Pulaski County23Robertson County: 22.9 %Robertson County22.9Clinton County: 22.9 %Clinton County22.9Bath County: 22.5 %Bath County22.5Wayne County: 22.5 %Wayne County22.5Martin County: 22.4 %Martin County22.4Morgan County: 22.3 %Morgan County22.3Laurel County: 22.2 %Laurel County22.2Green County: 22.1 %Green County22.1Wolfe County: 34.6 %Wolfe County34.6Leslie County: 34.6 %Leslie County34.6Knox County: 34.5 %Knox County34.5Harlan County: 33.6 %Harlan County33.6Clay County: 33.6 %Clay County33.6Breathitt County: 31.3 %Breathitt County31.3Letcher County: 31.2 %Letcher County31.2Carter County: 30.2 %Carter County30.2McCreary County: 30 %McCreary County30Lee County: 30 %Lee County30Knott County: 29.5 %Knott County29.5Magoffin County: 29 %Magoffin County29Floyd County: 29 %Floyd County29Bell County: 28.3 %Bell County28.3Jackson County: 28.3 %Jackson County28.3Owsley County: 27.7 %Owsley County27.7Lewis County: 27 %Lewis County27Menifee County: 26.4 %Menifee County26.4Lawrence County: 26.1 %Lawrence County26.1Estill County: 25.7 %Estill County25.7Pike County: 25.6 %Pike County25.6Elliott County: 25.4 %Elliott County25.4Rowan County: 25.4 %Rowan County25.4Fulton County: 25.2 %Fulton County25.2Casey County: 24.9 %Casey County24.9Cumberland County: 24.9 %Cumberland County24.9Carroll County: 24.3 %Carroll County24.3Monroe County: 24.3 %Monroe County24.3Grayson County: 23.7 %Grayson County23.7Barren County: 23.6 %Barren County23.6Russell County: 23 %Russell County23Pulaski County: 23 %Pulaski County23Robertson County: 22.9 %Robertson County22.9Clinton County: 22.9 %Clinton County22.9Bath County: 22.5 %Bath County22.5Wayne County: 22.5 %Wayne County22.5Martin County: 22.4 %Martin County22.4Morgan County: 22.3 %Morgan County22.3Laurel County: 22.2 %Laurel County22.2Green County: 22.1 %Green County22.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Wolfe County34.6
2Leslie County34.6
3Knox County34.5
4Harlan County33.6
5Clay County33.6
6Breathitt County31.3
7Letcher County31.2
8Carter County30.2
9McCreary County30
10Lee County30
11Knott County29.5
12Magoffin County29
13Floyd County29
14Bell County28.3
15Jackson County28.3
16Owsley County27.7
17Lewis County27
18Menifee County26.4
19Lawrence County26.1
20Estill County25.7
21Pike County25.6
22Elliott County25.4
23Rowan County25.4
24Fulton County25.2
25Casey County24.9
25Cumberland County24.9
27Carroll County24.3
28Monroe County24.3
29Grayson County23.7
30Barren County23.6
31Russell County23
32Pulaski County23
33Robertson County22.9
34Clinton County22.9
35Bath County22.5
36Wayne County22.5
37Martin County22.4
38Morgan County22.3
39Laurel County22.2
40Green County22.1
41Hart County21.9
42Whitley County21.6
43Perry County21.5
44Todd County21.5
45Rockcastle County21.2
46Metcalfe County21.2
47Johnson County20.5
48Hickman County20.4
49Hopkins County20
50Marion County19.9
51Carlisle County19.7
52Breckinridge County19.5
53Nicholas County19.3
54Lincoln County18.9
55Pendleton County18.8
56Union County18.8
57Powell County18.6
58Graves County18.5
59Calloway County18.4
60Bracken County18.4
61Allen County18.4
62Adair County18.2
63Butler County18.2
64Gallatin County18.1
65Logan County18
66Montgomery County17.8
67Boyd County17.6
68Henry County17.4
68Trigg County17.4
70Christian County17
71Edmonson County16.9
72Harrison County16.9
73Livingston County16.8
74Warren County16.7
75Webster County16.7
76Henderson County16.4
77Mason County16.3
78Larue County16.1
79Madison County16
80Fayette County15.7
81Fleming County15.6
82Ohio County15.5
83Owen County15.4
84Crittenden County15.2
85Muhlenberg County15.1
86McCracken County15.1
87Daviess County14.8
88Greenup County14.8
88Taylor County14.8
90Caldwell County14.7
91Boyle County14.5
92Garrard County14.5
93Trimble County14.3
94Clark County14.1
95Ballard County14
96Jefferson County13.7
97Anderson County13.7
97Washington County13.7
99Bourbon County13.7
100Franklin County13.3
101Meade County13.1
102Hancock County13.1
103Grant County12.8
104Jessamine County12.6
105Simpson County12.5
106Campbell County12.2
107Mercer County12
108Kenton County11.9
109Marshall County11.7
110Hardin County11.3
111McLean County10.8
112Scott County10.2
113Bullitt County10.2
114Lyon County10.1
115Shelby County9.4
116Nelson County8.1
117Woodford County7.3
118Spencer County6.6
119Boone County6.1
120Oldham County4.2

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/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Wolfe County, with 34.6% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Oldham County, with 4.2% in 2021.

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