State rank#3 of 120
Smallest county171,288 residentsJefferson County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 21117
Kenton County, Kentucky
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population171,288
Household income$80,548
Unemployment4.5%
Life expectancy76.3 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Kenton County has 171,288 residents and ranks #3 by population among Kentucky county equivalents. Median household income is $80,548. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%. Its clearest relative strength is poor or fair health. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Kentucky
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Kenton County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Kenton County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is poor or fair health.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $244,400 median home value and $1,069/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $80,548, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Kenton County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing poor or fair health, bachelor’s degree or higher, and life expectancy. College attainment is 37.4% and life expectancy is 76.3 years.
Potential advantages
- Poor or fair health: 16.7%, rank #4 of 120 available Kentucky counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.4%, rank #5 of 120 available Kentucky counties.
- Life expectancy: 76.3 years, rank #7 of 120 available Kentucky counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,069/mo, rank #112 of 120; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $244,400, rank #108 of 120; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 434 residents, rank #28 of 118; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Kentucky
Rank and range use only counties in Kentucky with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$80,548
$80,548; above the state county median of $57,293.
State rank #8 of 120 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$244,400
$244,400; above the state county median of $148,150.
State rank #108 of 120 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,069/mo
$1,069/mo; above the state county median of $773/mo.
State rank #112 of 120 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.5%
4.5%; below the state county median of 5.4%.
State rank #9 of 120 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
37.4%
37.4%; above the state county median of 17%.
State rank #5 of 120 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.3 years
76.3 years; above the state county median of 72.5 years.
State rank #7 of 120 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
16.7%
16.7%; below the state county median of 23.8%.
State rank #4 of 120 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.4%
5.4%; below the state county median of 6.9%.
State rank #10 of 120 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,145 residents
1 per 1,145 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,661 residents.
State rank #7 of 112 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 434 residents
1 per 434 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 791 residents.
State rank #28 of 118 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Kenton County FAQ
Is Kenton County a good place to live?
Kenton County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing poor or fair health, bachelor’s degree or higher, and life expectancy. College attainment is 37.4% and life expectancy is 76.3 years.
What should I know before moving to Kenton County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $244,400 median home value and $1,069/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $80,548, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Kenton County?
Kenton County has 171,288 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Kenton County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 21117; the parent state FIPS is 21.
What is the median household income in Kenton County?
The ACS median household income is $80,548.
How much does housing cost in Kenton County?
Housing benchmarks are $244,400 median home value and $1,069/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $80,548, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Kenton County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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