County profile · Kentucky
McCreary County, KY market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in McCreary County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 17,124
- +1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 5,861
- Median household income
- $33,750
- +20.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $85,300
- Jobs located here
- 2,342
- Highest market score
- 71
- Insurance agencies, #425 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in McCreary County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of McCreary 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 17,124 people live in McCreary County, in 5,861 households. Population estimates put the population change in McCreary County from 2020 to 2025 at +1.7%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in McCreary County is $33,750 a year, 58% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 20.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in McCreary County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (34).
The highest Groundwork market scores in McCreary County are for insurance agencies (71), auto repair shops (66) and auto repair and car care businesses (59). McCreary County ranks #425 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
For its number of households, McCreary County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (2.6 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (64% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in McCreary County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares McCreary 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 71 | #425 of 2,272 | 5 | 8.5 | $2.7M | 216 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 66 | #488 of 2,378 | 7 | 11.9 | $668K | 150 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 59 | #791 of 2,401 | 16 | 27.3 | $292K | 109 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 55 | #962 of 2,405 | 35 | 59.7 | $415K | 112 | 13 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 54 | #997 of 2,394 | 18 | 30.7 | $254K | 166 | 7 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 47 | #1,324 of 2,405 | 22 | 37.5 | $660K | 100 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 42 | #1,444 of 2,222 | 6 | 10.2 | $2.4M | 79 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 32 | #1,909 of 2,358 | 16 | 27.3 | $1M | 43 | 7 |
| Pizza | 30 | #1,813 of 2,090 | 12 | 20.5 | $1.2M | 24 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 24 | #1,902 of 2,063 | 5 | 8.5 | $2.9M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 23 | #2,152 of 2,402 | 15 | 25.6 | $1.8M | 54 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 23 | #2,259 of 2,385 | 18 | 30.7 | $196K | 92 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 22 | #1,527 of 1,656 | 10 | 17.1 | $456K | 26 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 21 | #1,863 of 2,070 | 5 | 8.5 | $5.5M | 59 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 19 | #2,239 of 2,339 | 11 | 18.8 | $321K | 74 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 16 | #2,111 of 2,261 | 10 | 17.1 | $2.8M | 35 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.8 | $381K | 38 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.8 | $2M | 222 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $1.2M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2.6M | 205 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $1.6M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $436K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $991K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $14.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $7.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | Index only | 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 |
| 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 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 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 |
| 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 McCreary 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 | $4.7M | $798 | 83 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $16.2M | $2,769 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $14.5M | $2,479 | 61 |
| Groceries | $27.6M | $4,712 | 75 |
| Personal care products and services | $3.5M | $602 | 60 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.5M | $260 | 45 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $2M | $338 | 34 |
| Medical and dental services | $4.6M | $779 | 60 |
| Pets | $3.3M | $568 | 62 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $7.8M | $1,335 | 65 |
| Vehicle insurance | $13.6M | $2,313 | 118 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $11.3M | $1,928 | 64 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6M | $1,029 | 73 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $66.1M | $11,273 | 68 |
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 McCreary County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 17,124+1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 5,861
- Median age
- 40.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 427 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 40
- Median household income
- $33,750+20.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $46,528
- Median home value
- $85,300
- Jobs located here
- 2,342
- Daytime population
- 14,241Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in McCreary 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 McCreary 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
- Whitley County, KY36,920 people
- Wayne County, KY19,602 people
- Pulaski County, KY65,897 people
- Knox County, KY29,865 people
- Laurel County, KY62,983 people
- Clinton County, KY9,202 people
- Russell County, KY18,221 people
- Bell County, KY23,509 people
Questions
How fast is McCreary County, KY growing?
Population estimates put McCreary County at 17,124 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 5,861 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 20.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in McCreary County, KY spend?
Households in McCreary County spend about $66.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $27.6M on groceries and $16.2M on gasoline and other fuels. Relative to the U.S., household spending in McCreary County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (34).
Which business types have the highest market scores in McCreary County, KY?
Of the business types scored in McCreary County, insurance agencies (71), auto repair shops (66) and auto repair and car care businesses (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #425 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does McCreary County, KY compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in McCreary County is $33,750, 58% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $85,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (2.6 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (64% 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 McCreary 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 McCreary 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 McCreary 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 McCreary 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.