Population
3,932
2025
−2.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Owsley County, KY: population growth, jobs and income
Owsley County gained 2 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Owsley County had an estimated 3,932 residents in 2025, down 2.5% (102 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Kentucky as a whole (+2.2%), and the 101st fastest growth of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Owsley County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Owsley County, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$448/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes23.6%2020–24
- Rent growth, 5 years+37.8%2016-2020 to 2020-2024
- New homes permitted, last 12 monthsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn 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
+45
2025
11.4 per 1,000 residents
+108 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
5.7%
2025
−0.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
Median household income
$22,188
2020–24
−24.5% 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
401
2023
+2.8% 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 45 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 401 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 5.7% in 2025, 0.1 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Median household income was $22,188 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, −24.5% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,589th.
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Owsley County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,932 | +2 |
| 2024 | 3,930 | −57 |
| 2023 | 3,987 | +46 |
| 2022 | 3,941 | −33 |
| 2021 | 3,974 | −60 |
| 2020 | 4,034 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Owsley County
Owsley County lost 102 people since 2020 even though 108 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 206, and net international migration took away 1.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −42 | −206 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −1 | −1 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +45 | +108 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | −3 | |
| Total change | +2 | −102 |
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 | 101st of 120 | 2,589th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 17th of 120 | 418th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 59th of 120 | 1,487th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 120th of 120 | 3,107th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 92nd of 120 | 2,805th of 3,108 |
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 Owsley 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. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Perry County and Clay County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Owsley County's population change (−2.5%) was ahead of 3 of its 5 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Lee County and Jackson County).
Its median household income ($22,188, 2020–24) is lower than in all 5 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owsley County, KY This county | 3,932 | −2.5% | 11.4 | – | $22,188 |
| Lee County, KY | 7,297 | −0.9% | 8.9 | – | $37,568 |
| Clay County, KY | 19,465 | −4.2% | 0.4 | 0.0 | $40,900 |
| Jackson County, KY | 13,325 | +2.7% | 6.2 | 0.0 | $40,000 |
| Breathitt County, KY | 12,558 | −8.3% | −7.5 | 0.1 | $34,808 |
| Perry County, KY | 26,555 | −6.4% | −4.8 | 0.0 | $42,181 |
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 Owsley County growing?
No. Its population fell 2.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 102 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Kentucky as a whole changed +2.2% over the same years. That ranks 101st of 120 counties in Kentucky for population growth.
How many people moved to Owsley County?
On net, about 45 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Owsley County?
It averaged 5.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Owsley County?
About 3,932 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Owsley County?
Private employers there had 401 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.8% 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.
Owsley County data alerts
Email me when Owsley County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
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, 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.