County profile · Kentucky
Whitley County, KY market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Whitley County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 37,297
- +1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 13,541
- Median household income
- $44,615
- +14.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $131,800
- Jobs located here
- 13,221
- Highest market score
- 70
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #221 of 1,771 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Whitley County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Whitley 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 37,297 people live in Whitley County, in 13,541 households. Population estimates show Whitley County grew 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Whitley County is $44,615 a year, 45% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 14.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Whitley County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (46).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Whitley County are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (70); home repair companies (68); and insurance agencies (65). Whitley County ranks #221 of 1,771 scored counties for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
Whitley County is part of the Corbin area. For its number of households, Whitley County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (48% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Whitley County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Whitley 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 | 70 | #221 of 1,771 | 5 | 3.7 | $3.2M | 191 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 68 | #250 of 2,057 | 6 | 4.4 | $5M | 207 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 65 | #624 of 2,272 | 18 | 13.3 | $1.8M | 145 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 63 | #496 of 2,063 | 7 | 5.2 | $5.6M | 152 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 61 | #500 of 1,889 | 7 | 5.2 | $5.6M | 136 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #1,142 of 2,088 | 8 | 5.9 | $773K | 117 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 48 | #1,179 of 2,229 | 27 | 19.9 | Index only | 145 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,279 of 2,176 | 25 | 18.5 | Index only | 124 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 45 | #1,216 of 2,087 | 16 | 11.8 | $1.3M | 101 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #1,314 of 2,210 | 22 | 16.2 | $929K | 106 | 4 |
| Gyms | 42 | #1,183 of 1,792 | 5 | 3.7 | $1.2M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 42 | #1,528 of 2,405 | 56 | 41.4 | $705K | 106 | 21 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 40 | #1,751 of 2,385 | 53 | 39.1 | $179K | 84 | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 36 | #1,056 of 1,461 | 5 | 3.7 | $1.8M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 36 | #1,443 of 1,886 | 12 | 8.9 | $1M | 104 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 36 | #1,771 of 2,405 | 110 | 81.2 | $359K | 97 | 55 |
| Chiropractors | 35 | #1,154 of 1,490 | 8 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 64 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 35 | #1,792 of 2,358 | 25 | 18.5 | $1.5M | 64 | 22 |
| Tire shops | 34 | #1,163 of 1,530 | 6 | 4.4 | $1.9M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 33 | #1,778 of 2,200 | 15 | 11.1 | $609K | 69 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 30 | #1,205 of 1,485 | 5 | 3.7 | $1.8M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 30 | #2,028 of 2,401 | 55 | 40.6 | $206K | 77 | 21 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 26 | #1,176 of 1,327 | 7 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 53 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 24 | #1,647 of 1,769 | 12 | 8.9 | $792K | 90 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 24 | #2,176 of 2,378 | 33 | 24.4 | $344K | 77 | 20 |
| Grocery stores | 22 | #1,843 of 2,070 | 14 | 10.3 | $5M | 54 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 21 | #2,200 of 2,339 | 29 | 21.4 | $328K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 20 | #1,223 of 1,356 | 8 | 5.9 | $1.2M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 17 | #2,043 of 2,090 | 20 | 14.8 | $2M | 39 | 30 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 17 | #2,110 of 2,222 | 29 | 21.4 | $1.4M | 45 | 30 |
| Convenience stores | 15 | #2,128 of 2,261 | 25 | 18.5 | $2.8M | 36 | 10 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 15 | #2,301 of 2,402 | 44 | 32.5 | $1.6M | 47 | 18 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 14 | #1,256 of 1,302 | 9 | 6.6 | $1.4M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 14 | #1,383 of 1,422 | 9 | 6.6 | $1.4M | 57 | 11 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 14 | #1,610 of 1,656 | 14 | 10.3 | $876K | 49 | 37 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 13 | #2,368 of 2,394 | 207 | 152.9 | $59K | 39 | 60 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $2.4M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $7.6M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $1.4M | 136 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $620K | 91 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $2.1M | 102 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $5.3M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $10.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $15.1M | Too few | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $8M | Too few | 4 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $10.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $9.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 | 5 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 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 Whitley 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 | $11.4M | $838 | 88 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $38.2M | $2,824 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $39.5M | $2,916 | 72 |
| Groceries | $70M | $5,166 | 82 |
| Personal care products and services | $9.5M | $702 | 70 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.1M | $301 | 52 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.2M | $457 | 46 |
| Medical and dental services | $12.3M | $906 | 70 |
| Pets | $9.1M | $674 | 74 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $20.4M | $1,510 | 73 |
| Vehicle insurance | $32.7M | $2,416 | 123 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $30.2M | $2,232 | 74 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $16M | $1,184 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $169.4M | $12,508 | 75 |
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 Whitley County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 37,297+1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 13,541
- Median age
- 35.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 67%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 438 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 84
- Median household income
- $44,615+14.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $63,305
- Median home value
- $131,800
- Jobs located here
- 13,221
- Daytime population
- 37,057Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Whitley 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 Whitley County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Bell County, KY23,509 people
- Pulaski County, KY65,897 people
- Clay County, KY19,921 people
- Wayne County, KY19,602 people
- Rockcastle County, KY16,163 people
Questions
How fast is Whitley County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Whitley County at 37,297 people in 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 13,541 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 14.4%, before inflation.
How much do households in Whitley County, KY spend?
Households in Whitley County spend about $169.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $70M on groceries and $39.5M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Whitley County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (46).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Whitley County, KY?
Of the business types scored in Whitley County, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (70); home repair companies (68); and insurance agencies (65) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #221 of 1,771 scored counties.
How does Whitley County, KY compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Whitley County is $44,615, 45% 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 $131,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (48% 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. 36 of the 56 business types have a score in Whitley 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 Whitley 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 Whitley 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 Whitley 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.