← Map/← Kentucky/Counties/Knott

Knott
Kentucky

14K

Population

$38K

Median Income

$61K

Median Home

R+54

Politics

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What stands out

What stands out about Knott County: the median home price is among the cheapest in America ($68K), violent crime is among the highest in America (5.9 per 1,000), and the overdose death rate is among the highest in America (139 per 100,000). Within Kentucky it ranks 1st of 120 counties for the median home price, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Knott County, Kentucky. 14,282 people live here with you. The population shrank 1.4% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -45).

Kentucky moved to a flat income tax, 3.5% for 2026, and exempts the first $31,110 of pension and retirement income per person. It has an inheritance tax, but spouses, children, parents and siblings are exempt. Home prices are among the lowest in the country outside Louisville and Lexington, and the state has some of the cheapest electricity, much of it still coal-fired.

Money

The typical household here brings in $38,336 a year, lower than 95% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $41,628. Unemployment runs 6.1%, higher than 97% of American counties. 7% of workers work from home.

Kentucky takes 3.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,342 a year.

Home

The median home costs $68K, cheaper than almost every county in America, about 1.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $672 a month. Property tax is 0.79% of home value, roughly $524 a year on that median home, lower than 57% of American counties. 73% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 5.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than almost every county in America. Drug overdoses killed 139 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 69.5 years, shorter than 97% of American counties. There are 11 active physicians in the county, about 7.7 per 10,000 people. 9.9% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.34 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 78% of American counties. 72% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 54 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 52% of eligible voters turned out. Under Kentucky law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 68 and lows near 45, warmer than 52% of American counties. About 53 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 21 out of 100, safer than 79% of American counties; the county has had 43 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 208 Mbps down, faster than 54% of American counties.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$38K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate29.2%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate6.1%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$19,419
Federal Spending per Capita$2,864
Median Individual Earnings$32K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers35.4%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$51K
Avg Credit Score646
Work From Home %6.5%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1820.1%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households26.5%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms5
Income (20th Percentile)$16K
Income (80th Percentile)$80K
Income (95th Percentile)$137K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher16.3%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School28.3%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %13.8%
Dependency Ratio0.66
Medicare Spending / Person$4,141
SS Benefits / Person$4,933
Education Wage Premium1.69x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$42K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$57K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$34K
Public Assistance Recipients2.8%
Average Annual Wage$42K
Professional Services Concentration0.22x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here30
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here1.4%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government1.1%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings1.9%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$61K
This county
$215K state avg
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$635/mo
This county
$1050/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.79%
This county
0.78% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $524

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$866/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+6.6%++12.2% since 2020
Home Value to Income Ratio1.5x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households9.0%
Homeownership Rate72.6%
This county
national avg ~65%
Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage
85 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)— Balanced market
5.0 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
0.0%
Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)— Buyers market — homes selling below list
94.5%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy69.5 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Food Insecurity20.7%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index6.4 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score9
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score18
Dental Care Shortage Score19
Healthcare Shortage Score15.3
Healthcare Offices11
Active Physicians11
Nursing Home Rating3.0 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients536 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$11,405
Uninsured (under 65)9.9%
This county
national avg ~10%

Education

Math Test Scores3.22 grade level
Reading Test Scores3.46 grade level
HS Diploma Holders2,410
Bachelor's Degree Holders746
HS Completion Rate71.7%
This county
national avg ~85%
Private Schools7

Safety

Violent Crime Rate5.9 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Firearm Fatality Rate31.2 / 100K
This county
national avg ~13.6/100K
Drug Overdose Rate96.8 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Traffic Fatalities3
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)73th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)139.1 / 100K
Suicide Rate25.4 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale0.1
January Sunshine-0.80
January Temperature0.43
Average Temp56°F+0.7% since 2022
Avg High Temp68°Fno change since 2022
Avg Low Temp45°F+2.3% since 2022
Annual Precipitation53.3 in/yr-1.1% since 2022
Avg Storm Events5.6 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$7K
Drought Index (2022)0.76
Heating Degree Days4,374 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,103 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)4,615 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,014 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.0
Avg Flood Events / Year2.6
Avg Hail Events / Year0.4
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.2
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)21 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)3 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations43 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)7.1 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)5 properties

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed208 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed159 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)243 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)53 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)31 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)36 ms
Households with 100Mbps+99.7%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet6.0%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)178 Mbps

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers269 workers
Public Transit Commuters26 workers
Walk to Work (workers)151 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)235 workers
Walk to Work3.7%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden33.3%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers5.3 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout52.2%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)5.160
Nonprofit Organizations36
Veterans Share3.8%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults48.8%
Never-Married Adults25.6%
Divorced Adults15.0%
Religious Organizations8
Asian Population0.1%
Native American Population0.3%
Membership Associations5.7 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Colleges & Universities1
Nursing & Care Facilities8
Grocery Stores7
Professional Services Firms12
Real Estate Firms4
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$39K
Avg Student Loan Balance$11K
Avg Credit Card Balance$3K
Loan Delinquency Rate54.4%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.06%

Politics

R+54

2024 Presidential · Kentucky was R+26 statewide

vs Kentucky State

Income tax
4%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.79%0.78% state avg
Politics
R+54R+26
COL Index
85state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↓ -45

More people leaving than arriving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.74x avg income)

Economic Mobility

36%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Knott County

Median home value: $68K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Explore Other Kentucky Counties

Adair County, KentuckyAllen County, KentuckyBallard County, KentuckyBarren County, KentuckyBath County, KentuckyBell County, KentuckyBoone County, KentuckyBourbon County, KentuckyBoyd County, KentuckyBoyle County, KentuckyBracken County, KentuckyBreathitt County, KentuckyAll Kentucky counties →

Full Kentucky profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

View Kentucky →

Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable