Laurel County, Kentucky: commercial real estate data.
Laurel County, Kentucky had an estimated 63,353 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 62,614, across 434 square miles. County output reached $2.97 bn in 2024, 1,272 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 28 7(a) approvals worth $16.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Laurel County
How many people live in Laurel County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202462,983
- Households23,996
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$57,771
- Median age40.1
- Median gross rent$813 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$159,500
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over43,794
- Population under 1814,265
- Share under 1822.6 percent
- Population 65 and over10,779
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6437,939
- Civilian labor force27,635
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.7 percent
- Rank by population among Kentucky counties15th of 120
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included866th of 3,222
Laurel County is the 15th largest of 120 Kentucky counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.6 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Laurel County
Is Laurel County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202463,353
- Census 2020 base population62,614
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.18 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241
- Births, 2024710
- Deaths, 2024765
- Natural change, 2024-55
- Net domestic migration, 20240
- Net international migration, 202452
- Total net migration, 202452
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,009
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1423rd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.18 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Laurel County
Where are people moving to Laurel County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,365
- People arriving, from those returns2,698
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,176
- Net household movement189
- Adjusted gross income arriving$57.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$11.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$42,098
- Average income of a leaving household$39,436
- Largest single originWhitley County (259 households)
- Largest single destinationWhitley County (212 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitley County | 259 | 572 | $9.0 m |
| Knox County | 188 | 383 | $7.0 m |
| Clay County | 112 | 245 | $4.0 m |
| Jackson County | 49 | 106 | $1.8 m |
| Madison County | 44 | 77 | $1.3 m |
| Fayette County | 43 | 67 | $2.8 m |
| Pulaski County | 36 | 69 | $1.9 m |
| Bell County | 30 | 54 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $2,662 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Whitley County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Laurel County
What is the Laurel County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.97 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.83 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.7 percent
- GDP change over five years28.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Kentucky areas BEA publishes19th of 120
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes988th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,113
Output grew 4.7 percent in the latest year and 28.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Laurel County
Employment by industry in Laurel County
- Covered employment, annual average26,264
- Establishments reporting1,793
- Average annual pay$48,566
- Average weekly wage$934
- Manufacturing, employment3,669
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$56,293
- Retail trade, employment3,646
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,966
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,488
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$53,552
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment3,269
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$42,892
- Transportation and warehousing, employment2,474
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,262
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,669 | 59 | $56,293 |
| Retail trade | 3,646 | 294 | $34,966 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,488 | 388 | $53,552 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,269 | 85 | $42,892 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,474 | 84 | $56,590 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,262 | 107 | $20,881 |
| Construction | 888 | 124 | $77,617 |
| Wholesale trade | 773 | 76 | $67,442 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,669 jobs, 14.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Laurel County
How many businesses are in Laurel County?
- Establishments, all industries1,272
- Employment at those establishments23,992
- Annual payroll$1.09 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Laurel County
Building permits in Laurel County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202416
- Declared construction value permitted$2.7 m
- Single family units authorized10
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units37.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$171,813
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.7
Single-family homes are 62.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Laurel County
SBA loans in Laurel County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded28
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$598,768
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,002,500
- Largest single approval$3,250,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)313
- Jobs per approval11.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals22
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer21.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter21
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals28.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderCommunity Trust Bank, Inc. (5)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.5 m
- Average 504 approval$1,508,800
- Median 504 approval$1,072,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval68.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved45.2
- Most active CDCCommunity Ventures Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$24.3 m
The average approval of $598,768 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 21.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Laurel County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Laurel County
Do SBA loans in Laurel County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure20
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Paid in full3
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Laurel County
SBA lending by place in Laurel County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- London, approvals25
- Corbin, approvals2
- Keavy, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| London | 25 | $15,862,700 |
| Corbin | 2 | $752,800 |
| Keavy | 1 | $150,000 |
London accounts for 25 approvals against 2 in Corbin. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Laurel County
How large is Laurel County?
- Land area434 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Kentucky counties25th of 120
- Width, east to west27.4 mi
- Height, north to south26.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land145
- Establishments per square mile2.93
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Laurel County
Flood risk in Laurel County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Laurel County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 210134
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Laurel County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Laurel County (community 210134), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Laurel County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Laurel County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Laurel County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202462,983
- Households23,996
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$57,771
- Median age40.1
Common questions
Laurel County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Laurel County, Kentucky?
The Census Bureau estimates 63,353 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 62,983, in 23,996 households, ranking 15th of 120 Kentucky counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Laurel County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.18 percent since the 2020 census base of 62,614, to 63,353 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 710 births against 765 deaths, with net migration of 52. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Laurel County?
$57,771. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $159,500, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $813 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Laurel County?
1,272 establishments, employing 23,992 people with an annual payroll of $1.09 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Laurel County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,669 jobs, 14.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 26,264 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,566, or $934 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Laurel County?
28 7(a) approvals totaling $16.8 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $7.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Laurel County?
16 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.7 m. Multifamily was 37.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Laurel County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Laurel County come from?
The largest single origin is Whitley County, with 259 households. Arriving households report an average income of $42,098 against $39,436 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Laurel County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Laurel County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Laurel County
Cities and places in Laurel.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Laurel County. All 3 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | city | 7,561 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| North Corbin | CDP | 2,190 | None recorded | 86.8 percent here, 13.2 percent Knox County |
| East Bernstadt | CDP | 669 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 28 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Laurel County, the largest being Corbin (2), Keavy (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby