Kentucky household income — percentiles + top 1%.
Kentucky’s median household income is $64,553 (−$19,039 vs the national median of $83,592), ranking #47 of 51 jurisdictions. The top 1% threshold (p99) in Kentucky is $450,000 — a lower-income state where even the top 1% threshold sits well below the wealthiest coastal states (often $400k-$500k vs $900k+ in CT/NJ).
Kentucky household income percentiles
| Percentile | Kentucky household income | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| p10 | $12,356 | Bottom 10% (federal assistance threshold) |
| p25 | $31,035 | Bottom quartile |
| p50 | $64,553 | Median household |
| p75 | $122,016 | Top quartile |
| p90 | $193,860 | Top 10% |
| p95 | $259,144 | Top 5% |
| p99 | $450,000 | Top 1% |
For interactive percentile lookup (enter your household income, get exact percentile), open the Kentucky income percentile calculator →
Kentucky median household income by age
| Age cohort | Median household income |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | $29,345 |
| 25-34 | $54,057 |
| 35-44 | $71,046 |
| 45-54 (peak earning) | $74,907 |
| 55-64 | $67,957 |
| 65+ | $44,790 |
Compare to your age cohort for a peer-relevant ranking — the all-ages median can be misleading if you’re early-career or retired.
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks #47 of 51 jurisdictions for median household income. The spread between p10 ($12,356) and p99 ($450,000) is $437,644 — a 36.4× ratio, indicating wide income dispersion. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive income percentile map.
Kentucky metros by household income
State median hides metro variation. Louisville and the smaller Kentucky metros often differ by 30-50%. Click any city to compare cost-of-living against income.
- Louisvillemedian $59,600 · pop 1.4MCOL 87 →
- Lexingtonmedian $61,200 · pop 0.5MCOL 90 →
- Bowling Greenmedian $48,500 · pop 0.2MCOL 85 →
More Kentucky metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Kentucky household income — common questions
What is the median household income in Kentucky in 2024?
Kentucky's median household income is approximately $64,553 (Census CPS 2024 income year). That's −$19,039 vs the national median of $83,592.
What income puts you in the top 1% in Kentucky?
The top 1% threshold (p99) in Kentucky is approximately $450,000 of household income. The top 5% threshold is $259,144; top 10% is $193,860.
What is considered low income in Kentucky?
Households below the 25th percentile (under $31,035/yr) are typically considered low-income in Kentucky; households below the 10th percentile (under $12,356) qualify for most federal + state assistance programs.
Are there any Kentucky-specific income distribution quirks?
Kentucky median household income ~$58k; Eastern KY coal-belt counties remain among the most distressed in the US, while Northern KY (Cincinnati metro) median exceeds $80k.
For interactive percentile lookup (enter your household income, see exactly where you rank in Kentucky + nationally), open the full Kentucky income percentile guide →
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · Source: US Census CPS; state-level deeper percentiles via DQYDJ. Last verified 2026-04-19.