County profile · Kentucky
Laurel County, KY market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Laurel County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 63,746
- +1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 23,996
- Median household income
- $57,771
- +39.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $159,500
- Jobs located here
- 28,658
- Highest market score
- 73
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #167 of 1,771 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Laurel County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Laurel 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
An estimated 63,746 people live in Laurel County, in 23,996 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Laurel County grew 1.6%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Laurel County is $57,771 a year, 28% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 39.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Laurel County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Laurel County are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (73); landscaping and lawn care companies (72); and chiropractors (67). Laurel County ranks #167 of 1,771 scored counties for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
Laurel County is part of the Corbin area. For its number of households, Laurel County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet grooming and boarding businesses (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for coffee shops and cafes (62% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Laurel County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Laurel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 73 | #167 of 1,771 | 11 | 4.6 | $2.8M | 165 | 17 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 72 | #199 of 1,493 | 8 | 3.3 | $3.8M | 130 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 67 | #272 of 1,490 | 5 | 2.1 | $4.7M | 195 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 67 | #274 of 1,707 | 9 | 3.8 | $6.6M | 138 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 67 | #371 of 2,063 | 10 | 4.2 | $7.6M | 207 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 67 | #566 of 2,272 | 35 | 14.6 | $1.8M | 144 | 18 |
| Veterinarians | 65 | #374 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.1 | $3.6M | 131 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 58 | #811 of 2,405 | 91 | 37.9 | $841K | 127 | 30 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 57 | #649 of 1,889 | 15 | 6.3 | $5.1M | 123 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 56 | #911 of 2,405 | 171 | 71.3 | $447K | 121 | 80 |
| Home repair trades | 55 | #785 of 2,057 | 24 | 10.0 | $2.5M | 101 | 26 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 52 | #966 of 2,088 | 21 | 8.8 | $612K | 92 | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 51 | #415 of 887 | 6 | 2.5 | Index only | 137 | 3 |
| Gyms | 51 | #884 of 1,792 | 12 | 5.0 | $1.1M | 82 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 50 | #695 of 1,472 | 6 | 2.5 | $556K | 82 | 4 |
| Real estate | 50 | #1,091 of 2,229 | 58 | 24.2 | Index only | 128 | 12 |
| Tire shops | 49 | #802 of 1,530 | 10 | 4.2 | $2.2M | 88 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 46 | #1,388 of 2,339 | 48 | 20.0 | $383K | 89 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 44 | #846 of 1,356 | 8 | 3.3 | $2.3M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 43 | #1,275 of 2,070 | 23 | 9.6 | $5.7M | 61 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 43 | #1,587 of 2,385 | 94 | 39.2 | $196K | 92 | 8 |
| Pet businesses | 42 | #1,447 of 2,200 | 35 | 14.6 | $510K | 58 | 8 |
| Car washes and detailing | 41 | #969 of 1,451 | 14 | 5.8 | $1.6M | 63 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 40 | #895 of 1,327 | 8 | 3.3 | $2.8M | 90 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 38 | #1,590 of 2,210 | 46 | 19.2 | $841K | 96 | 15 |
| Gas stations | 38 | #1,674 of 2,358 | 52 | 21.7 | $1.4M | 59 | 41 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #1,792 of 2,176 | 50 | 20.8 | Index only | 118 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 35 | #1,638 of 2,090 | 26 | 10.8 | $2.9M | 58 | 41 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #1,891 of 2,378 | 70 | 29.2 | $316K | 71 | 25 |
| Auto repair and car care | 34 | #1,903 of 2,401 | 124 | 51.7 | $179K | 66 | 33 |
| Roofing and gutters | 32 | #965 of 1,177 | 12 | 5.0 | $4.9M | 58 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 32 | #1,652 of 2,087 | 41 | 17.1 | $944K | 74 | 15 |
| Pet stores | 31 | #763 of 974 | 5 | 2.1 | $3.6M | 79 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 31 | #1,826 of 2,222 | 44 | 18.3 | $1.7M | 57 | 41 |
| Convenience stores | 30 | #1,796 of 2,261 | 28 | 11.7 | $4.7M | 59 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 29 | #1,978 of 2,402 | 65 | 27.1 | $2M | 60 | 21 |
| Spas and skin care | 28 | #1,567 of 1,769 | 22 | 9.2 | $836K | 95 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 25 | #1,196 of 1,328 | 14 | 5.8 | $1.3M | 79 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 25 | #1,479 of 1,656 | 20 | 8.3 | $1.2M | 66 | 42 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 24 | #1,214 of 1,334 | 9 | 3.8 | $1.4M | 71 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 24 | #1,294 of 1,422 | 22 | 9.2 | $1.1M | 44 | 9 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 20 | #1,204 of 1,302 | 14 | 5.8 | $1.7M | 53 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 20 | #1,361 of 1,461 | 18 | 7.5 | $991K | 39 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 19 | #1,824 of 1,886 | 29 | 12.1 | $806K | 82 | 28 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 19 | #2,305 of 2,394 | 219 | 91.3 | $107K | 70 | 92 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $2M | 203 | 5 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $19.7M | 164 | 12 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $19.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $15.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | 6 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $30.5M | Too few | 11 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $38.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $22.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $23.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | 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 | 3 |
Household spending in Laurel 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 | $22.1M | $923 | 96 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $73.7M | $3,073 | 118 |
| Food away from home | $76.5M | $3,188 | 78 |
| Groceries | $131.1M | $5,462 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $18.4M | $766 | 76 |
| Child care and other personal services | $8.1M | $339 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.9M | $536 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $23.4M | $974 | 76 |
| Pets | $17.8M | $743 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $38.7M | $1,613 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $63.1M | $2,630 | 134 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $59.1M | $2,463 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $30.5M | $1,272 | 90 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $321.7M | $13,405 | 80 |
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 Laurel County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 63,746+1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 23,996
- Median age
- 40.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 434 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 145
- Median household income
- $57,771+39.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $71,501
- Median home value
- $159,500
- Jobs located here
- 28,658
- Daytime population
- 68,298Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Laurel 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 Laurel 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
- Knox County, KY29,865 people
- Whitley County, KY36,920 people
- Clay County, KY19,921 people
- Jackson County, KY13,086 people
- Rockcastle County, KY16,163 people
- Pulaski County, KY65,897 people
- McCreary County, KY16,867 people
- Owsley County, KY3,971 people
Questions
How fast is Laurel County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Laurel County at 63,746 people in 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 23,996 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 39.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Laurel County, KY spend?
Households in Laurel County spend about $321.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $131.1M on groceries and $76.5M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Laurel County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Laurel County, KY?
Of the business types scored in Laurel County, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (73); landscaping and lawn care companies (72); and chiropractors (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #167 of 1,771 scored counties.
How does Laurel County, KY compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Laurel County is $57,771, 28% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $159,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet grooming and boarding businesses (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for coffee shops and cafes (62% 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. 45 of the 56 business types have a score in Laurel 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 Laurel 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.
All markets in Kentucky · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Laurel 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 Laurel 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.