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 2023, at 38.1%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 4%. The median was 18.4% and the figure for Kentucky was 16.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest38.1Wolfe County
Lowest4Oldham County
Median18.4120 counties
Kentucky16.1History

Map of counties, 2023

Adair County: 18 %Allen County: 15 %Anderson County: 12.5 %Ballard County: 13.8 %Barren County: 21.1 %Bath County: 23.5 %Bell County: 27.1 %Boone County: 6.6 %Bourbon County: 13.7 %Boyd County: 17.7 %Boyle County: 14.2 %Bracken County: 20.1 %Breathitt County: 28.2 %Breckinridge County: 21.3 %Bullitt County: 9.5 %Butler County: 18.6 %Caldwell County: 13.9 %Calloway County: 17.2 %Campbell County: 10.8 %Carlisle County: 16.7 %Carroll County: 18.9 %Carter County: 19.6 %Casey County: 24.4 %Christian County: 17.2 %Clark County: 12.9 %Clay County: 31.8 %Clinton County: 18.4 %Crittenden County: 18.1 %Cumberland County: 33.9 %Daviess County: 15.3 %Edmonson County: 16.8 %Elliott County: 27.2 %Estill County: 22 %Fayette County: 15.7 %Fleming County: 22.9 %Floyd County: 26.6 %Franklin County: 13.4 %Fulton County: 25.7 %Gallatin County: 14.4 %Garrard County: 17.1 %Grant County: 12.3 %Graves County: 20.5 %Grayson County: 19.3 %Green County: 21.5 %Greenup County: 15.1 %Hancock County: 15.9 %Hardin County: 11.7 %Harlan County: 27.2 %Harrison County: 16.4 %Hart County: 21.2 %Henderson County: 15.5 %Henry County: 16.6 %Hickman County: 20.8 %Hopkins County: 19.2 %Jackson County: 23 %Jefferson County: 14.5 %Jessamine County: 10.5 %Johnson County: 23.4 %Kenton County: 11.9 %Knott County: 25.9 %Knox County: 36.7 %Larue County: 18.9 %Laurel County: 21.3 %Lawrence County: 22 %Lee County: 28.9 %Leslie County: 27.3 %Letcher County: 26.8 %Lewis County: 22.6 %Lincoln County: 18.5 %Livingston County: 18.9 %Logan County: 14 %Lyon County: 10.6 %McCracken County: 15.3 %McCreary County: 35.1 %McLean County: 9.3 %Madison County: 15.8 %Magoffin County: 33.4 %Marion County: 19.5 %Marshall County: 13.4 %Martin County: 29.2 %Mason County: 18.4 %Meade County: 13.7 %Menifee County: 28.2 %Mercer County: 11.4 %Metcalfe County: 25.7 %Monroe County: 22.2 %Montgomery County: 15.2 %Morgan County: 18.2 %Muhlenberg County: 17.8 %Nelson County: 9.7 %Nicholas County: 18.5 %Ohio County: 13.1 %Oldham County: 4 %Owen County: 17.2 %Owsley County: 24.9 %Pendleton County: 14.3 %Perry County: 25.5 %Pike County: 25.1 %Powell County: 21.8 %Pulaski County: 20.3 %Robertson County: 27.4 %Rockcastle County: 24.4 %Rowan County: 24.5 %Russell County: 23.4 %Scott County: 10.4 %Shelby County: 8.6 %Simpson County: 15.1 %Spencer County: 7.4 %Taylor County: 16.6 %Todd County: 21.7 %Trigg County: 20.4 %Trimble County: 13.2 %Union County: 17.4 %Warren County: 16.8 %Washington County: 12.6 %Wayne County: 24.3 %Webster County: 13.9 %Whitley County: 25.1 %Wolfe County: 38.1 %Woodford County: 10.1 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Wolfe County: 38.1 %Wolfe County38.1Knox County: 36.7 %Knox County36.7McCreary County: 35.1 %McCreary County35.1Cumberland County: 33.9 %Cumberland County33.9Magoffin County: 33.4 %Magoffin County33.4Clay County: 31.8 %Clay County31.8Martin County: 29.2 %Martin County29.2Lee County: 28.9 %Lee County28.9Breathitt County: 28.2 %Breathitt County28.2Menifee County: 28.2 %Menifee County28.2Robertson County: 27.4 %Robertson County27.4Leslie County: 27.3 %Leslie County27.3Harlan County: 27.2 %Harlan County27.2Elliott County: 27.2 %Elliott County27.2Bell County: 27.1 %Bell County27.1Letcher County: 26.8 %Letcher County26.8Floyd County: 26.6 %Floyd County26.6Knott County: 25.9 %Knott County25.9Fulton County: 25.7 %Fulton County25.7Metcalfe County: 25.7 %Metcalfe County25.7Perry County: 25.5 %Perry County25.5Pike County: 25.1 %Pike County25.1Whitley County: 25.1 %Whitley County25.1Owsley County: 24.9 %Owsley County24.9Rowan County: 24.5 %Rowan County24.5Casey County: 24.4 %Casey County24.4Rockcastle County: 24.4 %Rockcastle County24.4Wayne County: 24.3 %Wayne County24.3Bath County: 23.5 %Bath County23.5Russell County: 23.4 %Russell County23.4Johnson County: 23.4 %Johnson County23.4Jackson County: 23 %Jackson County23Fleming County: 22.9 %Fleming County22.9Lewis County: 22.6 %Lewis County22.6Monroe County: 22.2 %Monroe County22.2Lawrence County: 22 %Lawrence County22Estill County: 22 %Estill County22Powell County: 21.8 %Powell County21.8Todd County: 21.7 %Todd County21.7Green County: 21.5 %Green County21.5Wolfe County: 38.1 %Wolfe County38.1Knox County: 36.7 %Knox County36.7McCreary County: 35.1 %McCreary County35.1Cumberland County: 33.9 %Cumberland County33.9Magoffin County: 33.4 %Magoffin County33.4Clay County: 31.8 %Clay County31.8Martin County: 29.2 %Martin County29.2Lee County: 28.9 %Lee County28.9Breathitt County: 28.2 %Breathitt County28.2Menifee County: 28.2 %Menifee County28.2Robertson County: 27.4 %Robertson County27.4Leslie County: 27.3 %Leslie County27.3Harlan County: 27.2 %Harlan County27.2Elliott County: 27.2 %Elliott County27.2Bell County: 27.1 %Bell County27.1Letcher County: 26.8 %Letcher County26.8Floyd County: 26.6 %Floyd County26.6Knott County: 25.9 %Knott County25.9Fulton County: 25.7 %Fulton County25.7Metcalfe County: 25.7 %Metcalfe County25.7Perry County: 25.5 %Perry County25.5Pike County: 25.1 %Pike County25.1Whitley County: 25.1 %Whitley County25.1Owsley County: 24.9 %Owsley County24.9Rowan County: 24.5 %Rowan County24.5Casey County: 24.4 %Casey County24.4Rockcastle County: 24.4 %Rockcastle County24.4Wayne County: 24.3 %Wayne County24.3Bath County: 23.5 %Bath County23.5Russell County: 23.4 %Russell County23.4Johnson County: 23.4 %Johnson County23.4Jackson County: 23 %Jackson County23Fleming County: 22.9 %Fleming County22.9Lewis County: 22.6 %Lewis County22.6Monroe County: 22.2 %Monroe County22.2Lawrence County: 22 %Lawrence County22Estill County: 22 %Estill County22Powell County: 21.8 %Powell County21.8Todd County: 21.7 %Todd County21.7Green County: 21.5 %Green County21.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Wolfe County38.1+1.3 pts
2Knox County36.7+2.7 pts
3McCreary County35.1+1.5 pts
4Cumberland County33.9+5.6 pts
5Magoffin County33.4+2.9 pts
6Clay County31.8+0.5 pts
7Martin County29.2+5.7 pts
8Lee County28.9-2.5 pts
9Breathitt County28.2-0.3 pts
9Menifee County28.2+1.3 pts
11Robertson County27.4+5.4 pts
12Leslie County27.3-6.3 pts
13Harlan County27.2-2.8 pts
14Elliott County27.2+2.5 pts
15Bell County27.1+0.8 pts
16Letcher County26.8-2.3 pts
17Floyd County26.6-2.7 pts
18Knott County25.9-1.8 pts
19Fulton County25.7-1.7 pts
20Metcalfe County25.7+1.7 pts
21Perry County25.5+1.7 pts
22Pike County25.1+1.2 pts
22Whitley County25.1+1.6 pts
24Owsley County24.9-4 pts
25Rowan County24.5-0.1 pts
26Casey County24.4-1.7 pts
27Rockcastle County24.4+0.8 pts
28Wayne County24.3-1.1 pts
29Bath County23.5+0.3 pts
30Russell County23.4+1.8 pts
31Johnson County23.4+2 pts
32Jackson County23+0.4 pts
33Fleming County22.9+1.9 pts
34Lewis County22.6-4 pts
35Monroe County22.2+1.3 pts
36Lawrence County22-4.3 pts
37Estill County22-2 pts
38Powell County21.8+0.6 pts
39Todd County21.7+0.5 pts
40Green County21.5+0.1 pts
41Breckinridge County21.3-2.2 pts
42Laurel County21.3+0.8 pts
43Hart County21.2-1.4 pts
44Barren County21.1-0.1 pts
45Hickman County20.8+4.1 pts
46Graves County20.5+0.7 pts
47Trigg County20.4+2.3 pts
48Pulaski County20.3-1.1 pts
49Bracken County20.1+3.1 pts
50Carter County19.6-4.3 pts
51Marion County19.5-3 pts
52Grayson County19.3-1.8 pts
53Hopkins County19.2-0 pts
54Carroll County18.9-1.4 pts
55Larue County18.9+0.1 pts
55Livingston County18.9+2.1 pts
57Butler County18.6-1.2 pts
58Lincoln County18.5+1.2 pts
59Nicholas County18.5+2.3 pts
60Clinton County18.4-1.9 pts
61Mason County18.4-0.4 pts
62Morgan County18.2-2.2 pts
63Crittenden County18.1+0.2 pts
64Adair County18-1.7 pts
65Muhlenberg County17.8+1.5 pts
66Boyd County17.7+0.3 pts
67Union County17.4-1.5 pts
68Calloway County17.2-1.5 pts
69Christian County17.2+0.5 pts
70Owen County17.2+3 pts
71Garrard County17.1+1.4 pts
72Edmonson County16.8-0.1 pts
73Warren County16.8-0.4 pts
74Carlisle County16.7-3.4 pts
75Taylor County16.6+2.4 pts
76Henry County16.6+0.4 pts
77Harrison County16.4+0.5 pts
78Hancock County15.9+0.7 pts
79Madison County15.8-0.3 pts
80Fayette County15.7+0.8 pts
81Henderson County15.5-1.6 pts
82McCracken County15.3+0.2 pts
83Daviess County15.3+1.3 pts
84Montgomery County15.2-1.2 pts
85Simpson County15.1+0.9 pts
86Greenup County15.10 pts
87Allen County15-1.5 pts
88Jefferson County14.5+0.4 pts
89Gallatin County14.4-2.4 pts
90Pendleton County14.3-3.5 pts
91Boyle County14.2-0.8 pts
92Logan County14-1.7 pts
93Webster County13.9-2.2 pts
94Caldwell County13.9-2.3 pts
95Ballard County13.8-0.5 pts
96Meade County13.7+0.5 pts
97Bourbon County13.7-1.4 pts
98Franklin County13.4+0.2 pts
99Marshall County13.4+1.3 pts
100Trimble County13.2-0.5 pts
101Ohio County13.1-1 pts
102Clark County12.9-2.1 pts
103Washington County12.6-1.6 pts
104Anderson County12.5-0.9 pts
105Grant County12.3-0.5 pts
106Kenton County11.90 pts
107Hardin County11.7+0.2 pts
108Mercer County11.4+0.1 pts
109Campbell County10.8-0.9 pts
110Lyon County10.6+0.7 pts
111Jessamine County10.5-1.6 pts
112Scott County10.4+1.2 pts
113Woodford County10.1+1.6 pts
114Nelson County9.7+0.9 pts
115Bullitt County9.5-1.1 pts
116McLean County9.3+1.4 pts
117Shelby County8.6+0.7 pts
118Spencer County7.4-1 pts
119Boone County6.6+0.9 pts
120Oldham County4-0 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/kentucky-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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 38.1% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Oldham County, with 4% in 2023.

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