Population
9,064
2025
−0.8% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
McLean County, KY: population growth, jobs and income
McLean County lost 17 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.2%).
McLean County had an estimated 9,064 residents in 2025, down 0.8% (70 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Kentucky as a whole (+2.2%), and the 82nd fastest growth of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Data file: the tables in CSV and Excel, no PDF. 3 counties: adds Daviess County and Hopkins County.
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In the McLean County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for McLean County plus 15 more figures, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S. Three of the 15, free:
- Median gross rent$641/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes12.7%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months4Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- IRS net movers: people, households and rateIn the report
- Households and housing unitsIn the report
- Homes built since 2010, share of all homesIn the report
- Private business establishmentsIn the report
- Residents who moved in; 3-year net migration rateIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+25
2025
2.8 per 1,000 residents
+163 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.7%
2025
+0.4 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted (calendar 2025)
2
2025
0.2 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$65,596
2020–24
+21.1% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
947
2023
−19.6% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 25 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out. Counting international arrivals, net migration was about +26.
Private employers had 947 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −19.6% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.7% in 2025, 0.4 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 2 new homes in 2025, or 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $65,596 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +21.1% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,123rd.
Part of the Owensboro, KY metro area.
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McLean County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9,064 | −17 |
| 2024 | 9,081 | +34 |
| 2023 | 9,047 | −61 |
| 2022 | 9,108 | −13 |
| 2021 | 9,121 | −13 |
| 2020 | 9,134 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in McLean County
McLean County lost 70 people since 2020 even though 163 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 245, and net international migration added 11.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −43 | −245 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +1 | +11 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +25 | +163 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | +1 | |
| Total change | −17 | −70 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Kentucky | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 82nd of 120 | 2,123rd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 79th of 120 | 1,428th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 116th of 120 | 3,027th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 26th of 120 | 1,564th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 48th of 120 | 2,287th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 69th of 97 | 2,630th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for McLean County, KY as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. It has everything on this page plus 15 more figures for McLean County, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Daviess County and Hopkins County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, McLean County's population change (−0.8%) was ahead of 2 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 4.
Only Daviess County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 6 neighbouring counties; McLean County's was $65,596.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean County, KY This county | 9,064 | −0.8% | 2.8 | 0.2 | $65,596 |
| Daviess County, KY | 104,898 | +1.5% | 1.7 | 2.4 | $68,214 |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | 30,634 | −0.9% | 4.6 | 0.2 | $51,927 |
| Ohio County, KY | 23,934 | +0.8% | 3.0 | 0.1 | $57,798 |
| Hopkins County, KY | 45,127 | −0.5% | 3.5 | 4.5 | $56,815 |
| Henderson County, KY | 44,255 | −0.9% | −3.4 | 2.5 | $58,851 |
| Webster County, KY | 12,929 | −0.7% | 0.6 | 0.4 | $59,628 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is McLean County growing?
No. Its population fell 0.8% between 2020 and 2025, about 70 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Most recently, between 2024 and 2025 it lost 17 residents (−0.2%). Kentucky as a whole changed +2.2% over the same years. That ranks 82nd of 120 counties in Kentucky for population growth.
How many people moved to McLean County?
On net, about 25 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate). Counting international arrivals, net migration was about +26.
What is the unemployment rate in McLean County?
It averaged 4.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of McLean County?
About 9,064 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in McLean County?
Private employers there had 947 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −19.6% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Kentucky
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Kentucky county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
McLean County data alerts
Email me when McLean County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Cite or reuse these figures
The headline figures above are licensed CC BY 4.0 by Simply Stats LLC: reuse them anywhere, with a credit and a link to this page. What the licence covers.
The licence covers these headline figures only. The county reports, data files and data packs are not licensed for reuse beyond section 4 of the terms.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.