County profile · Kentucky
Breathitt County, KY market data
How Breathitt County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 12,558
- −8.3% since 2020
- Households
- 5,464
- Median household income
- $34,808
- +27.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $70,300
- Jobs located here
- 2,764
- Highest market score
- 52
- Restaurants and cafes, #1,080 of 2,405 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Breathitt County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Breathitt County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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
Breathitt County has an estimated 12,558 people and 5,464 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Breathitt County declined 8.3%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Breathitt County is $34,808, 57% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 27.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Breathitt County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (39).
Of the business types scored in Breathitt County, restaurants and cafes (52), auto repair and car care businesses (50) and auto repair shops (49) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For restaurants and cafes, that ranks #1,080 of 2,405 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (53% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Breathitt County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Breathitt County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | 52 | #1,080 of 2,405 | 30 | 54.9 | $482K | 130 | 9 |
| Auto repair and car care | 50 | #1,217 of 2,401 | 13 | 23.8 | $309K | 115 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 49 | #1,209 of 2,378 | 7 | 12.8 | $574K | 129 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 36 | #1,786 of 2,405 | 16 | 29.3 | $903K | 136 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 32 | #2,051 of 2,385 | 12 | 22.0 | $291K | 137 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 27 | #2,057 of 2,358 | 11 | 20.1 | $1.2M | 52 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 23 | #2,047 of 2,200 | 5 | 9.2 | $670K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 22 | #2,019 of 2,222 | 8 | 14.6 | $1.8M | 59 | 8 |
| Pizza | 21 | #1,991 of 2,090 | 7 | 12.8 | $2.1M | 41 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 19 | #2,303 of 2,394 | 40 | 73.2 | $112K | 73 | 10 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 12 | #2,181 of 2,210 | 10 | 18.3 | $768K | 87 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 10 | #2,068 of 2,087 | 8 | 14.6 | $960K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 9 | #2,312 of 2,339 | 10 | 18.3 | $350K | 81 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 3 | #2,252 of 2,261 | 10 | 18.3 | $2.7M | 34 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 1 | #2,402 of 2,402 | 24 | 43.9 | $1.1M | 33 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 0 | #2,070 of 2,070 | 12 | 22.0 | $2.2M | 24 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $4.8M | 116 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $253K | 37 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $1.5M | 48 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $1.5M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $1.5M | 84 | 10 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $1.3M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $1.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $1.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $14.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $7.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Breathitt County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $4M | $736 | 77 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $13.7M | $2,508 | 97 |
| Food away from home | $14.5M | $2,645 | 65 |
| Groceries | $26.7M | $4,891 | 77 |
| Personal care products and services | $3.5M | $640 | 64 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.5M | $272 | 47 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $2.1M | $387 | 39 |
| Medical and dental services | $4.5M | $819 | 64 |
| Pets | $3.3M | $613 | 67 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $7.7M | $1,406 | 68 |
| Vehicle insurance | $11.6M | $2,121 | 108 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $11M | $2,020 | 67 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $5.9M | $1,088 | 77 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $64.1M | $11,724 | 70 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Breathitt County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 12,558−8.3% since 2020
- Households
- 5,464
- Median age
- 43.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 492 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 27
- Median household income
- $34,808+27.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $51,653
- Median home value
- $70,300
- Jobs located here
- 2,764
- Daytime population
- 12,089Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Breathitt County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Breathitt County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Kentucky 8
- Wolfe County, KY6,443 people
- Owsley County, KY3,971 people
- Lee County, KY7,339 people
- Perry County, KY27,499 people
- Magoffin County, KY11,348 people
- Knott County, KY13,830 people
- Morgan County, KY14,053 people
- Leslie County, KY10,079 people
Questions
How fast is Breathitt County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Breathitt County at 12,558 people in 2025, down 8.3% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,464 households. Median household income rose 27.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Breathitt County, KY spend?
Households in Breathitt County spend about $64.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $26.7M on groceries and $14.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Breathitt County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (39).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Breathitt County, KY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Breathitt County are for restaurants and cafes (52), auto repair and car care businesses (50) and auto repair shops (49). Breathitt County ranks #1,080 of 2,405 scored counties for restaurants and cafes.
How does Breathitt County, KY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Breathitt County is $34,808 a year, 57% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 8.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $70,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Breathitt County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (53% below the U.S. rate).
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. 16 of the 56 business types have a score in Breathitt County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Breathitt County. It maps the competitors 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Breathitt County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Breathitt County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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.