The median household income in Kentucky is $63,726, which ranks in the top 60% nationally.
Top income thresholds in Kentucky
Kentucky ranks #47 of 51 states (and D.C.) by median household income.
States with a similar income level
This state's median household income
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Median income · Single households
Below, Kentucky's numbers in more depth: where its $63,726 median ranks, the income lines for the top quarter and top tenth, a by-age earnings table, and county comparisons.
Kentucky is among the lower-income states: its median household income, $63,726, ranks 47th of 51 and is 21% below the national $80,734. No cost-of-living adjustment is applied, so this compares dollars earned rather than what they buy.
Reaching the top quarter of households takes about $111,758 in Kentucky, compared with $141,925 nationally. Households earning over $200,000 make up 7% of the state, compared with a 13% national share.
For a more recent snapshot, the 2024 one-year survey shows $64,526 (+1% against the 2020–2024 average). We use the five-year figure elsewhere because it's more reliable for smaller areas.
In Kentucky, 7% of households have incomes of at least $200,000. By household income, the top 25% start at about $111,758, and the top 10% at about $174,366. The table marks lines that fall above $200,000 rather than guessing their value: the Census groups everyone above that amount together, so the exact top-5% and top-1% cutoffs can't be read from this data.
On Kentucky's distribution, the national median income of $80,734 corresponds to roughly the top 39%.
Comparing the two lines gives a ratio of 1.75 (top quarter over median), about the same as the 1.77 seen nationwide.
| Line | Household income |
|---|---|
| Median (top 50%) | $63,680 |
| Top 25% | $111,758 |
| Top 10% | $174,366 |
| Top 5% | Above $200,000 (top bracket) |
| Top 1% | Above $200,000 (top bracket) |
Personal earnings follow the usual career arc: $41,763 for Kentucky workers aged 25–34, topping out at $53,523 for those aged 45–54. Compared age-for-age with the nation, the gap averages −14% and is largest at 65+: $27,930 here, $34,745 nationwide. These figures are personal earnings (wages plus self-employment) from Census microdata, so they're lower than household income, which can combine several earners.
| Age | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25–34 | $41,763 | $46,177 |
| 35–44 | $50,375 | $58,657 |
| 45–54 | $53,523 | $60,915 |
| 55–64 | $48,881 | $55,860 |
| 65+ | $27,930 | $34,745 |
Splitting Kentucky households by type: $97,954 for married couples versus $37,284 for single and non-family households, a ratio of 2.6 to 1.
The gap between Kentucky's richest and poorest counties is large: $122,497 in Oldham County against $22,188 in Owsley County. The five highest-income counties are Oldham County, Spencer County, Boone County, Scott County, and Woodford County; the five lowest are Owsley County, Wolfe County, Bell County, Knox County, and Magoffin County.
Only 6 out of 120 counties top the national median, or 5%. Hopkins County is the median county at $56,815.
| Highest | Median | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oldham County | $122,497 | Owsley County | $22,188 |
| Spencer County | $102,618 | Wolfe County | $30,417 |
| Boone County | $99,414 | Bell County | $31,354 |
| Scott County | $85,158 | Knox County | $32,527 |
| Woodford County | $83,788 | Magoffin County | $33,080 |
Sources for this section: ACS 2020–2024 five-year tables for household income (state and 120 counties), plus 91,883 person-level microdata records for the age breakdown. Groups under 100 records are left blank.
Reference statistics only — not financial advice.
US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates (B19013, B19001)
Based on US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates — actual figures may differ from your real income/assets. Not financial advice.