Market rankings · Kentucky
Fast food and sandwich shops in Kentucky
Markets across Kentucky ranked by the Groundwork market score for fast food and sandwich shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 2,688
- 2,425 chain locations (90%)
- Official establishments
- 3,499
- All limited-service restaurants · +5.7% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $6.3B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 14.8
- 11% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $2.4M
- 23% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #47 of 51
- Market score 28 · Lower middle
A site report maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings around any address in Kentucky by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
As of September 2026, map listings count 2,688 fast food and sandwich shops in Kentucky. 2,425 of them (90%) are chain locations, against 79% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 14.8, 11% above the U.S. rate of 13.3.
At $3,489 per household (14% below the U.S. average), households in Kentucky spend about $6.3B a year on food away from home. That works out to $2.4M per shop, 23% below the U.S. figure of $3.1M. That spending covers all food away from home, which fast food and sandwich shops share with other businesses in the trade.
Official counts show 3,499 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in Kentucky in 2023, up 5.7% from 2019. That is one for every 519 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.1% over the same years. The official count takes in all limited-service restaurants, not only fast food and sandwich shops: pizza places are counted too. Since fiscal 2022, 83 SBA-backed loans worth $48.9M have gone to businesses classed as limited-service restaurants in Kentucky.
Among the 50 states and DC, Kentucky ranks #47 for fast food and sandwich shops, with a Groundwork market score of 28 (lower middle). Of the 9 scored metro areas in or partly in Kentucky, the Cincinnati metro area scores highest (54). Of the 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in Kentucky, the Mayfield area scores highest (64).
Every market in Kentucky for fast food and sandwich shops
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Kentucky, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 54 | 1,292 | 14.2 | $2.9M | +2.7% | #175 of 387 |
| 1Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 51 | 807 | 14.5 | $2.6M | +2.9% | #190 of 387 |
| 2Owensboro, KY | 45 | 59 | 13.0 | $2.7M | +1.3% | #228 of 387 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 43 | 187 | 15.0 | $2.4M | +8.5% | #243 of 387 |
| 3Lexington-Fayette, KY | 42 | 331 | 15.3 | $2.5M | +3.4% | #246 of 387 |
| 4Bowling Green, KY | 38 | 106 | 14.5 | $2.4M | +9.5% | #272 of 387 |
| 5Elizabethtown, KY | 37 | 76 | 15.0 | $2.4M | +2.4% | #276 of 387 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 15 | 224 | 14.7 | $2.3M | −2.6% | #373 of 387 |
| 6Paducah, KY-IL | 14 | 65 | 15.6 | $2.2M | −1.2% | #376 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Mayfield, KY | 64 | 13 | 9.2 | $3.4M | +1.4% | #141 of 537 |
| 2Frankfort, KY | 52 | 46 | 14.2 | $2.5M | +3.1% | #260 of 537 |
| 3Henderson, KY | 51 | 24 | 10.2 | $3.2M | −0.9% | #272 of 537 |
| 4Mount Sterling, KY | 49 | 27 | 14.9 | $2.1M | +3.1% | #286 of 537 |
| 5Richmond-Berea, KY | 49 | 79 | 15.9 | $2.1M | +7.0% | #288 of 537 |
| 6Danville, KY | 38 | 33 | 15.2 | $2.1M | +3.6% | #385 of 537 |
| 7Murray, KY | 37 | 22 | 14.4 | $2.2M | +4.9% | #389 of 537 |
| 8Somerset, KY | 36 | 41 | 15.6 | $2M | +3.5% | #404 of 537 |
| 9Campbellsville, KY | 34 | 26 | 17.7 | $1.8M | +3.4% | #422 of 537 |
| 10Madisonville, KY | 31 | 30 | 16.3 | $1.9M | −0.5% | #444 of 537 |
| 11Glasgow, KY | 31 | 40 | 18.1 | $1.7M | +2.6% | #446 of 537 |
| 12Franklin, KY | 26 | 19 | 23.7 | $1.4M | +5.9% | #472 of 537 |
| 13Corbin, KY | 23 | 97 | 17.2 | $1.7M | +0.1% | #482 of 537 |
| 14Pikeville, KY | 13 | 67 | 17.2 | $1.7M | −5.4% | #517 of 537 |
| 15Middlesborough, KY | 2 | 22 | 22.1 | $1.2M | −4.8% | #537 of 537 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Spencer County, KY | 90 | 8 | 10.9 | $4M | +7.7% | #16 of 2,222 |
| 2Oldham County, KY | 83 | 26 | 11.3 | $4.4M | +4.9% | #88 of 2,222 |
| 3Meade County, KY | 76 | 9 | 8.2 | $4.6M | +2.2% | #206 of 2,222 |
| 4Allen County, KY | 74 | 6 | 7.5 | $4.3M | +9.5% | #248 of 2,222 |
| 5Garrard County, KY | 73 | 6 | 9.0 | $3.6M | +7.3% | #288 of 2,222 |
| 6Kenton County, KY | 72 | 80 | 11.9 | $3.4M | +3.9% | #316 of 2,222 |
| 7Lincoln County, KY | 69 | 8 | 8.2 | $3.8M | +4.6% | #401 of 2,222 |
| 8Scott County, KY | 69 | 31 | 13.7 | $3M | +8.2% | #414 of 2,222 |
| 9Nelson County, KY | 68 | 19 | 9.9 | $3.6M | +4.8% | #436 of 2,222 |
| 10Larue County, KY | 67 | 5 | 8.3 | $4M | +2.1% | #467 of 2,222 |
| 11Mercer County, KY | 67 | 10 | 10.9 | $3.1M | +4.8% | #484 of 2,222 |
| 12Hart County, KY | 66 | 6 | 8.1 | $3.7M | +4.3% | #510 of 2,222 |
| 13Henry County, KY | 66 | 7 | 11.4 | $2.9M | +4.8% | #532 of 2,222 |
| 14Anderson County, KY | 65 | 10 | 10.4 | $3.5M | +5.5% | #547 of 2,222 |
| 15Shelby County, KY | 65 | 25 | 13.5 | $2.9M | +6.2% | #560 of 2,222 |
| 16Bullitt County, KY | 65 | 43 | 13.5 | $2.9M | +5.0% | #561 of 2,222 |
| 17Jessamine County, KY | 63 | 25 | 12.6 | $3M | +7.8% | #626 of 2,222 |
| 18Woodford County, KY | 61 | 17 | 15.7 | $2.5M | +3.7% | #722 of 2,222 |
| 19Logan County, KY | 60 | 12 | 10.9 | $2.9M | +4.2% | #756 of 2,222 |
| 20Breckinridge County, KY | 59 | 10 | 12.4 | $2.6M | +5.2% | #800 of 2,222 |
| 21Graves County, KY | 56 | 13 | 9.2 | $3.4M | +1.4% | #893 of 2,222 |
| 22Greenup County, KY | 54 | 15 | 10.2 | $3.3M | −1.9% | #976 of 2,222 |
| 23Clark County, KY | 54 | 16 | 10.6 | $3.2M | +2.3% | #977 of 2,222 |
| 24Washington County, KY | 52 | 5 | 10.3 | $3.2M | +2.7% | #1,063 of 2,222 |
| 25Fleming County, KY | 49 | 8 | 13.7 | $2.2M | +4.6% | #1,200 of 2,222 |
Show all 120 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Marshall County, KY | 47 | 15 | 11.4 | $3.1M | −0.1% | #1,251 of 2,222 |
| 27Trigg County, KY | 47 | 8 | 13.2 | $2.5M | +3.1% | #1,278 of 2,222 |
| 28Harrison County, KY | 46 | 10 | 13.7 | $2.5M | +4.9% | #1,311 of 2,222 |
| 29Daviess County, KY | 45 | 57 | 13.7 | $2.6M | +1.5% | #1,345 of 2,222 |
| 30Rockcastle County, KY | 44 | 7 | 10.7 | $2.8M | +0.6% | #1,369 of 2,222 |
| 31Boone County, KY | 43 | 107 | 21.0 | $2.1M | +6.5% | #1,420 of 2,222 |
| 32McCreary County, KY | 42 | 6 | 10.2 | $2.4M | +1.7% | #1,444 of 2,222 |
| 33Ohio County, KY | 42 | 12 | 13.2 | $2.4M | +0.8% | #1,445 of 2,222 |
| 34Madison County, KY | 42 | 68 | 18.4 | $1.9M | +9.4% | #1,458 of 2,222 |
| 35Jefferson County, KY | 41 | 511 | 15.4 | $2.4M | +1.6% | #1,471 of 2,222 |
| 36Campbell County, KY | 41 | 69 | 17.6 | $2.3M | +2.5% | #1,475 of 2,222 |
| 37Henderson County, KY | 40 | 21 | 11.3 | $2.9M | −0.9% | #1,483 of 2,222 |
| 38Fayette County, KY | 39 | 227 | 16.2 | $2.3M | +2.2% | #1,539 of 2,222 |
| 39Hardin County, KY | 39 | 71 | 15.9 | $2.3M | +2.4% | #1,540 of 2,222 |
| 40Wayne County, KY | 38 | 10 | 12.4 | $2.2M | +0.3% | #1,576 of 2,222 |
| 41Warren County, KY | 38 | 92 | 16.5 | $2.1M | +10.6% | #1,582 of 2,222 |
| 42Russell County, KY | 36 | 13 | 17.2 | $1.8M | +3.4% | #1,659 of 2,222 |
| 43Grayson County, KY | 35 | 14 | 13.8 | $2.3M | +3.6% | #1,672 of 2,222 |
| 44Marion County, KY | 35 | 13 | 16.8 | $1.9M | +2.7% | #1,687 of 2,222 |
| 45Muhlenberg County, KY | 34 | 17 | 14.0 | $2.3M | −0.9% | #1,701 of 2,222 |
| 46Franklin County, KY | 34 | 36 | 15.8 | $2.2M | +2.0% | #1,708 of 2,222 |
| 47Morgan County, KY | 34 | 9 | 18.4 | $1.6M | +5.0% | #1,729 of 2,222 |
| 48Calloway County, KY | 33 | 22 | 14.4 | $2.2M | +4.9% | #1,747 of 2,222 |
| 49Pulaski County, KY | 32 | 41 | 15.6 | $2M | +3.5% | #1,784 of 2,222 |
| 50Monroe County, KY | 32 | 7 | 15.1 | $2M | −1.1% | #1,785 of 2,222 |
| 51Adair County, KY | 32 | 13 | 18.2 | $1.7M | +2.9% | #1,791 of 2,222 |
| 52Laurel County, KY | 31 | 44 | 18.3 | $1.7M | +1.6% | #1,826 of 2,222 |
| 53Montgomery County, KY | 31 | 22 | 20.0 | $1.6M | +2.5% | #1,830 of 2,222 |
| 54Carter County, KY | 30 | 16 | 14.8 | $2.1M | −1.7% | #1,845 of 2,222 |
| 55Bourbon County, KY | 30 | 15 | 18.4 | $1.9M | −0.3% | #1,852 of 2,222 |
| 56Grant County, KY | 29 | 16 | 17.3 | $2M | +4.7% | #1,875 of 2,222 |
| 57Clay County, KY | 29 | 10 | 13.7 | $2M | −4.1% | #1,876 of 2,222 |
| 58Hopkins County, KY | 28 | 30 | 16.3 | $1.9M | −0.5% | #1,900 of 2,222 |
| 59Lawrence County, KY | 27 | 10 | 15.8 | $1.9M | −3.3% | #1,930 of 2,222 |
| 60Johnson County, KY | 23 | 17 | 18.8 | $1.5M | −2.6% | #2,007 of 2,222 |
| 61Barren County, KY | 23 | 38 | 21.1 | $1.5M | +2.6% | #2,008 of 2,222 |
| 62Simpson County, KY | 23 | 19 | 23.7 | $1.4M | +5.9% | #2,009 of 2,222 |
| 63Breathitt County, KY | 22 | 8 | 14.6 | $1.8M | −8.3% | #2,019 of 2,222 |
| 64Floyd County, KY | 22 | 24 | 16.3 | $1.8M | −3.9% | #2,022 of 2,222 |
| 65Boyle County, KY | 21 | 25 | 20.8 | $1.6M | +2.9% | #2,044 of 2,222 |
| 66Carroll County, KY | 21 | 9 | 21.5 | $1.5M | +2.9% | #2,046 of 2,222 |
| 67Taylor County, KY | 21 | 22 | 21.4 | $1.5M | +2.9% | #2,048 of 2,222 |
| 68McCracken County, KY | 18 | 58 | 21.0 | $1.7M | −0.5% | #2,091 of 2,222 |
| 69Letcher County, KY | 18 | 14 | 16.5 | $1.6M | −7.0% | #2,094 of 2,222 |
| 70Knox County, KY | 17 | 14 | 12.0 | $2.2M | −2.2% | #2,099 of 2,222 |
| 71Caldwell County, KY | 17 | 11 | 21.9 | $1.5M | −0.3% | #2,108 of 2,222 |
| 72Whitley County, KY | 17 | 29 | 21.4 | $1.4M | +1.6% | #2,110 of 2,222 |
| 73Perry County, KY | 16 | 16 | 14.4 | $2M | −6.4% | #2,114 of 2,222 |
| 74Mason County, KY | 16 | 11 | 15.4 | $2M | −1.2% | #2,115 of 2,222 |
| 75Harlan County, KY | 14 | 18 | 16.8 | $1.7M | −7.6% | #2,150 of 2,222 |
| 76Powell County, KY | 12 | 9 | 18.8 | $1.5M | −2.2% | #2,174 of 2,222 |
| 77Boyd County, KY | 11 | 44 | 22.8 | $1.4M | −0.9% | #2,184 of 2,222 |
| 78Christian County, KY | 10 | 49 | 19.0 | $1.6M | −3.6% | #2,190 of 2,222 |
| 79Rowan County, KY | 10 | 24 | 25.0 | $1.3M | −1.0% | #2,192 of 2,222 |
| 80Pike County, KY | 9 | 43 | 17.7 | $1.6M | −6.4% | #2,194 of 2,222 |
| 81Martin County, KY | 5 | 7 | 18.2 | $1.6M | −4.9% | #2,213 of 2,222 |
| 82Bell County, KY | 2 | 22 | 22.1 | $1.2M | −4.8% | #2,222 of 2,222 |
| Casey County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $4.7M | +1.8% | |
| Pendleton County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $9.2M | +1.1% | |
| Estill County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 6.7 | $4.3M | −1.4% | |
| Knott County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 7.2 | $3.9M | −5.9% | |
| Union County, KY | Not scored | 3 | 5.8 | $5.4M | −5.9% | |
| Jackson County, KY | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $4.8M | +2.8% | |
| Lewis County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $7.5M | −1.4% | |
| Bath County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 8.5 | $3.8M | +3.6% | |
| Webster County, KY | Not scored | 3 | 6.1 | $5.2M | −0.7% | |
| Todd County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 8.8 | $3.9M | +5.6% | |
| Butler County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 8.8 | $3.5M | +1.6% | |
| Edmonson County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $3.9M | +5.0% | |
| Green County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 9.0 | $3.3M | +4.6% | |
| Magoffin County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 8.4 | $3.1M | −4.3% | |
| Owen County, KY | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $13.7M | +2.6% | |
| Metcalfe County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 4.9 | $6.1M | +2.9% | |
| Leslie County, KY | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $3.9M | −8.0% | |
| Clinton County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 10.4 | $2.7M | −1.0% | |
| McLean County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 5.5 | $6.4M | −0.8% | |
| Hancock County, KY | Not scored | 1 | 2.7 | $12M | −0.6% | |
| Crittenden County, KY | Not scored | 4 | 11.3 | $2.7M | −2.2% | |
| Livingston County, KY | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.1% | |
| Lyon County, KY | Not scored | 5 | 14.6 | $2.4M | +5.2% | |
| Gallatin County, KY | Not scored | 5 | 15.3 | $2.2M | +1.9% | |
| Trimble County, KY | Not scored | 3 | 8.9 | $3.9M | +2.8% | |
| Bracken County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 5.9 | $6M | +1.3% | |
| Nicholas County, KY | Not scored | 1 | 3.6 | $8.4M | +5.4% | |
| Ballard County, KY | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.5% | |
| Lee County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 7.7 | $3.4M | −0.9% | |
| Elliott County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 8.2 | $3.5M | −0.9% | |
| Wolfe County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 7.5 | $3.2M | −4.0% | |
| Fulton County, KY | Not scored | 5 | 19.6 | $1.4M | −4.5% | |
| Menifee County, KY | Not scored | 1 | 4.0 | $7.1M | +4.8% | |
| Cumberland County, KY | Not scored | 2 | 7.6 | $3.6M | +2.3% | |
| Carlisle County, KY | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.2% | |
| Hickman County, KY | Not scored | 1 | 5.8 | $5.7M | −3.4% | |
| Owsley County, KY | Not scored | 1 | 6.4 | $3.6M | −2.5% | |
| Robertson County, KY | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.6% |
Markets with fewer than 5 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many fast food and sandwich shops are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 2,688 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings as of September 2026. 2,425 of them (90%) are chain locations. The listings count fast food, sandwich shops, delis and bagel shops. Official counts show 3,499 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in 2023, up 5.7% from 2019. That count covers all limited-service restaurants (pizza places included), not only fast food and sandwich shops. Another 520 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Kentucky spend on food away from home?
About $6.3B a year, or $3,489 per household. That is 14% below the U.S. average (an index of 86, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 2,688 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, it comes to $2.4M per shop. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only fast food and sandwich shops. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,814,469 households in Kentucky and national spending patterns by income.
How does Kentucky compare with the U.S. for fast food and sandwich shops?
Kentucky has 14.8 fast food and sandwich shops per 10,000 households, 11% above the U.S. rate of 13.3. Spending per shop is $2.4M, 23% below the U.S. figure of $3.1M. At the national ratio of fast food and sandwich shops to household spending, Kentucky would have about 2,075, against 2,688 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 519 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. The official count rose 5.7% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.1% for the U.S.
Which market in Kentucky has the highest market score for fast food and sandwich shops?
Among 9 scored metro areas in or partly in Kentucky, the Cincinnati metro area scores highest, at 54 (upper middle). Among 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in Kentucky, the Mayfield area scores highest, at 64 (upper middle). Among 82 scored counties in Kentucky, Spencer County scores highest, at 90 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Kentucky scores 28 for fast food and sandwich shops (lower middle), #47 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Kentucky. It maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Fast food and sandwich shops in other states
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Top markets for fast food and sandwich shops across the U.S. · All business types in Kentucky
Related business types in Kentucky
- Restaurants and cafes16,217 listings
- Sit-down restaurants8,953 listings
- Pizza1,897 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes1,338 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops1,258 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Kentucky?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.