County profile · Kentucky
Letcher County, KY market data
How Letcher County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 19,952
- −7.0% since 2020
- Households
- 8,463
- Median household income
- $41,793
- +39.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $67,400
- Jobs located here
- 4,399
- Highest market score
- 60
- Gas stations, #749 of 2,358 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Letcher County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Letcher 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
Letcher County has an estimated 19,952 people and 8,463 households. Population estimates show Letcher County declined 7.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Letcher County is $41,793, 48% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 39.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Letcher County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (40).
Of the business types scored in Letcher County, gas stations (60), sit-down restaurants (45) and pet businesses (43) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #749 of 2,358 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (55% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Letcher County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Letcher 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 60 | #749 of 2,358 | 10 | 11.8 | $2.5M | 103 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 45 | #1,401 of 2,405 | 29 | 34.3 | $784K | 118 | 8 |
| Pet businesses | 43 | #1,376 of 2,200 | 5 | 5.9 | $1.1M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 43 | #1,479 of 2,405 | 55 | 65.0 | $414K | 112 | 23 |
| Hair salons | 40 | #1,623 of 2,339 | 9 | 10.6 | $617K | 143 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 33 | #1,749 of 2,210 | 13 | 15.4 | $920K | 105 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 32 | #2,010 of 2,394 | 32 | 37.8 | $222K | 145 | 21 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 27 | #1,791 of 2,087 | 12 | 14.2 | $997K | 78 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 24 | #2,184 of 2,401 | 29 | 34.3 | $248K | 92 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 24 | #2,237 of 2,385 | 22 | 26.0 | $252K | 119 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 18 | #2,094 of 2,222 | 14 | 16.5 | $1.6M | 53 | 14 |
| Pizza | 17 | #2,044 of 2,090 | 12 | 14.2 | $1.9M | 37 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 11 | #2,350 of 2,402 | 26 | 30.7 | $1.6M | 48 | 7 |
| Auto repair shops | 11 | #2,357 of 2,378 | 22 | 26.0 | $327K | 74 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 10 | #1,880 of 1,889 | 7 | 8.3 | $3.2M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 9 | #2,199 of 2,261 | 12 | 14.2 | $3.5M | 45 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 7 | #1,764 of 1,769 | 8 | 9.5 | $694K | 79 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 4 | #2,058 of 2,070 | 14 | 16.5 | $3M | 32 | 6 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $1.4M | 74 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 58 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $5.3M | 419 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $405K | 60 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $2.4M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $1.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $11.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $1.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $1.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $4.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $3.5M | Too few | 21 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $17.9M | Too few | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $9.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $17.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $9.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $12M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $5.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 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 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 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 | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 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 Letcher 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 | $7.2M | $851 | 89 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $24.6M | $2,910 | 112 |
| Food away from home | $22.7M | $2,687 | 66 |
| Groceries | $42.1M | $4,975 | 79 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.6M | $656 | 65 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.2M | $256 | 44 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.3M | $389 | 40 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.1M | $838 | 65 |
| Pets | $5.3M | $621 | 68 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12M | $1,414 | 69 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.1M | $2,489 | 127 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $17.9M | $2,116 | 70 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.4M | $1,113 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $101.3M | $11,969 | 72 |
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 Letcher County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 19,952−7.0% since 2020
- Households
- 8,463
- Median age
- 43.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 338 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 62
- Median household income
- $41,793+39.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $53,066
- Median home value
- $67,400
- Jobs located here
- 4,399
- Daytime population
- 18,096Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Letcher 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 Letcher 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
- Knott County, KY13,830 people
- Perry County, KY27,499 people
- Floyd County, KY35,224 people
- Harlan County, KY25,772 people
- Pike County, KY56,727 people
- Leslie County, KY10,079 people
- Breathitt County, KY13,276 people
- Magoffin County, KY11,348 people
Questions
How fast is Letcher County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Letcher County at 19,952 people in 2025, down 7.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 8,463 households. Median household income rose 39.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Letcher County, KY spend?
Households in Letcher County spend about $101.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $42.1M on groceries and $24.6M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Letcher County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (40).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Letcher County, KY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Letcher County are for gas stations (60), sit-down restaurants (45) and pet businesses (43). Letcher County ranks #749 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
How does Letcher County, KY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Letcher County is $41,793 a year, 48% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 7.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $67,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Letcher County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (55% 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. 18 of the 56 business types have a score in Letcher 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 Letcher 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 Letcher 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 Letcher 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.