Kentucky · GEOID 21125

Laurel County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 62,983 · 26,818 housing units

Median household income

$57,771

State $64,919

Median home value

$159,500

State $206,017

Median gross rent

$813

State $980

Homeownership rate

71.6%

State 68.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

40.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

8.7%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

10.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.76

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Laurel County	Kentucky
Population	62,983	4,534,824
Population density (per sq. mi.)	145.22	—
Median household income	$57,771	$64,919
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$72,500	—
Households	23,996	—
Average household size	2.57 people	—
Owner-occupied	71.6%	68.3%
Renter-occupied	28.4%	31.7%
Race	95.3% White · 0.6% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Laurel County compared with Kentucky.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

17.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 27.6%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.9%	$31,996	$800	$88,080
1 earner	34.4%	$58,487	$1,462	$186,689
2 earners	34.6%	$94,630	$2,366	$321,225
3+ earners	10.1%	$128,497	$3,212	$447,290

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

23,996

Average size: 2.57 people

Households with children

6,478

27.0% of households

Per-capita income

$27,836

Poverty rate: 19.7%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

71.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 68.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 61.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 11.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

31.6% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,992.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $159,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $813.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,822 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 4.9% · For rent 23.0% · Seasonal 6.7% · Other 56.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

36.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 63.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.7%

188 units of 26,818 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

6.0%

1,602 units of 26,818 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$46,217

100% MHI$57,771

120% MHI$69,325

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Laurel County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$40,600	$46,400	$58,000
100% AMI	$50,750	$58,000	$72,500
120% AMI	$60,900	$69,600	$87,000

HUD FMR Area: Laurel County, KY. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

40.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Laurel County.

Covered employment

24,303

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

1,778

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$48,728

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	3,669	$56,289	$178,507	+$19,007	$1,407
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	3,646	$34,970	$99,151	−$60,349	$874
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	3,488	$53,559	$168,345	+$8,845	$1,339
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	3,269	$42,897	$128,658	−$30,842	$1,072
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	2,567	$56,953	$180,979	+$21,479	$1,424
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	2,262	$20,886	$46,725	−$112,775	$522
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	915	$62,544	$201,790	+$42,290	$1,564
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	888	$77,646	$258,005	+$98,505	$1,941
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	773	$67,442	$220,023	+$60,523	$1,686
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	606	$54,618	$172,287	+$12,787	$1,365
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	519	$51,602	$161,061	+$1,561	$1,290
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	477	$65,462	$212,652	+$53,152	$1,637
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	392	$42,236	$126,197	−$33,303	$1,056
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	332	$56,489	$179,252	+$19,752	$1,412
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	268	$18,251	$36,917	−$122,583	$456
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	145	$55,968	$177,312	+$17,812	$1,399
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	78	$145,165	$509,334	+$349,834	$3,629
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	5	$34,234	$96,411	−$63,089	$856
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	4	$127,257	$442,674	+$283,174	$3,181

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	3,194	$42,261	$126,290	−$33,210	$1,057
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	2,042	$20,941	$46,930	−$112,570	$524
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,662	$59,932	$192,068	+$32,568	$1,498
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,623	$54,553	$172,045	+$12,545	$1,364
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,154	$28,636	$75,573	−$83,927	$716
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	650	$48,192	$148,367	−$11,133	$1,205
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	606	$54,618	$172,287	+$12,787	$1,365
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	572	$87,905	$296,193	+$136,693	$2,198
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	490	$34,598	$97,766	−$61,734	$865
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	459	$62,389	$201,214	+$41,714	$1,560
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	449	$67,563	$220,473	+$60,973	$1,689
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	442	$42,389	$126,767	−$32,733	$1,060
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	423	$81,805	$273,486	+$113,986	$2,045
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	395	$63,437	$205,115	+$45,615	$1,586
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	374	$42,957	$128,881	−$30,619	$1,074
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	370	$31,152	$84,939	−$74,561	$779
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	352	$61,817	$199,084	+$39,584	$1,545
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	336	$26,708	$68,397	−$91,103	$668
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	263	$41,713	$124,250	−$35,250	$1,043
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	220	$20,375	$44,823	−$114,677	$509
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	194	$67,446	$220,037	+$60,537	$1,686
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	188	$46,571	$142,334	−$17,166	$1,164
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	185	$41,035	$121,727	−$37,773	$1,026
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	174	$61,622	$198,358	+$38,858	$1,541
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	145	$55,968	$177,312	+$17,812	$1,399
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	143	$55,562	$175,801	+$16,301	$1,389
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	137	$41,385	$123,030	−$36,470	$1,035
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	127	$23,065	$54,836	−$104,664	$577
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	105	$71,830	$236,356	+$76,856	$1,796
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	93	$66,765	$217,502	+$58,002	$1,669
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	89	$32,626	$90,426	−$69,074	$816
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	78	$145,165	$509,334	+$349,834	$3,629
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	75	$69,985	$229,488	+$69,988	$1,750
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	70	$43,181	$129,715	−$29,785	$1,080
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	68	$73,799	$243,685	+$84,185	$1,845
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	60	$40,884	$121,165	−$38,335	$1,022
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	59	$61,158	$196,631	+$37,131	$1,529
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	56	$49,449	$153,046	−$6,454	$1,236
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	45	$36,720	$105,665	−$53,835	$918
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	45	$85,503	$287,252	+$127,752	$2,138
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	38	$64,706	$209,838	+$50,338	$1,618
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	34	$126,441	$439,637	+$280,137	$3,161
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	33	$34,846	$98,689	−$60,811	$871
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	26	$66,171	$215,291	+$55,791	$1,654
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	17	$57,013	$181,202	+$21,702	$1,425
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	13	$49,686	$153,929	−$5,571	$1,242
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	12	$42,883	$128,606	−$30,894	$1,072
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	12	$33,952	$95,361	−$64,139	$849
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	5	$34,234	$96,411	−$63,089	$856
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	4	$127,257	$442,674	+$283,174	$3,181

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	3,770	(3,040)	(45%)	$11.52	$23,960	$58,168	$599
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,610	(290)	(6%)	$12.87	$26,760	$68,590	$669
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	430	(790)	(65%)	$12.95	$26,940	$69,260	$674
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,820	60	3%	$14.59	$30,340	$81,916	$759
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	330	—	—	$14.62	$30,410	$82,177	$760
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	4,380	(300)	(6%)	$15.03	$31,270	$85,378	$782
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,230	80	4%	$15.59	$32,440	$89,733	$811
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,360	610	35%	$17.20	$35,780	$102,166	$895
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,230	(620)	(22%)	$17.50	$36,400	$104,474	$910
Tellers SOC 43-3071	520	(400)	(43%)	$18.02	$37,490	$108,531	$937
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,080	390	57%	$20.98	$43,630	$131,386	$1,091
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,100	370	21%	$23.21	$48,270	$148,658	$1,207
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	190	(540)	(74%)	$23.51	$48,900	$151,003	$1,223
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	790	(20)	(2%)	$23.52	$48,910	$151,040	$1,223
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	590	(90)	(13%)	$24.00	$49,920	$154,800	$1,248
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,970	(530)	(15%)	$25.61	$53,270	$167,270	$1,332
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,160	(150)	(6%)	—	$54,370	$171,364	$1,359
Electricians SOC 47-2111	580	100	21%	$26.78	$55,700	$176,315	$1,393
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	300	90	43%	$29.89	$62,180	$200,436	$1,555
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,770	290	8%	$39.46	$82,070	$274,473	$2,052

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 21125 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.