Simpson County, Kentucky: commercial real estate data.
Simpson County, Kentucky had an estimated 20,350 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 19,596, across 234 square miles. County output reached $1.23 bn in 2024, 422 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 12 7(a) approvals worth $10.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Simpson County
How many people live in Simpson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,972
- Households8,025
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$59,858
- Median age38.8
- Median gross rent$1,012 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$229,400
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,641
- Population under 184,679
- Share under 1823.4 percent
- Population 65 and over3,219
- Share 65 and over16.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,074
- Civilian labor force9,588
- Unemployment rate3.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.7 percent
- Rank by population among Kentucky counties58th of 120
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1880th of 3,222
Simpson County is the 58th largest of 120 Kentucky counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.4 percent against 16.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Simpson County
Is Simpson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,350
- Census 2020 base population19,596
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.85 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024127
- Births, 2024230
- Deaths, 2024253
- Natural change, 2024-23
- Net domestic migration, 2024123
- Net international migration, 202426
- Total net migration, 2024149
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024809
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents713th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.85 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.
Simpson County
Where are people moving to Simpson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving648
- People arriving, from those returns1,215
- Tax returns filed by households leaving624
- Net household movement24
- Adjusted gross income arriving$29.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$3.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,176
- Average income of a leaving household$40,923
- Largest single originWarren County (157 households)
- Largest single destinationWarren County (170 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County | 157 | 281 | $7.2 m |
| Sumner County | 112 | 218 | $4.7 m |
| Logan County | 38 | 73 | $1.3 m |
| Davidson County | 37 | 66 | $1.6 m |
| Robertson County | 35 | 68 | $1.8 m |
| Allen County | 26 | 52 | $656,000 |
Households arriving report $4,253 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 Warren 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.
Simpson County
What is the Simpson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.23 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.29 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-5.3 percent
- GDP change over five years30.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Kentucky areas BEA publishes42nd of 120
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1685th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$61,406
Output grew -5.3 percent in the latest year and 30.0 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.
Simpson County
Employment by industry in Simpson County
- Covered employment, annual average9,115
- Establishments reporting706
- Average annual pay$52,092
- Average weekly wage$1,002
- Manufacturing, employment2,727
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,438
- Retail trade, employment1,168
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,079
- Accommodation and food services, employment942
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,196
- Transportation and warehousing, employment771
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$51,886
- Health care and social assistance, employment578
- Construction, employment383
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,727 | 56 | $66,438 |
| Retail trade | 1,168 | 78 | $34,079 |
| Accommodation and food services | 942 | 63 | $22,196 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 771 | 18 | $51,886 |
| Health care and social assistance | 578 | 105 | $56,661 |
| Construction | 383 | 61 | $61,913 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 365 | 12 | $41,282 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 307 | 39 | $49,544 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,727 jobs, 29.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Simpson County
How many businesses are in Simpson County?
- Establishments, all industries422
- Employment at those establishments8,630
- Annual payroll$406.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.1
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.
Simpson County
Building permits in Simpson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024204
- Declared construction value permitted$40.2 m
- Single family units authorized159
- Multifamily units authorized45
- Multifamily share of units22.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$196,923
- Units authorized per 1,000 households25.4
Single-family homes are 77.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Simpson County
SBA loans in Simpson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded12
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$10.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$867,667
- Median 7(a) approval$254,650
- Largest single approval$3,495,900
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)98
- Jobs per approval8.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals10
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter10
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals16.7 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.4 m
- Average 504 approval$1,186,000
- Median 504 approval$1,186,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval17.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.8
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$12.8 m
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.
Simpson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Simpson County
Do SBA loans in Simpson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
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.
Simpson County
SBA lending by place in Simpson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Franklin, approvals11
- Auburn, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 11 | $7,101,800 |
| Auburn | 1 | $3,310,200 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Simpson County
How large is Simpson County?
- Land area234 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Kentucky counties91st of 120
- Width, east to west20.1 mi
- Height, north to south17.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land85
- Establishments per square mile1.80
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.
Simpson County
Flood risk in Simpson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Simpson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 210316
- 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 Simpson 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 Simpson County (community 210316), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Simpson 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 Simpson 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 Simpson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,972
- Households8,025
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$59,858
- Median age38.8
Common questions
Simpson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Simpson County, Kentucky?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,350 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 19,972, in 8,025 households, ranking 58th of 120 Kentucky counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Simpson County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.85 percent since the 2020 census base of 19,596, to 20,350 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 230 births against 253 deaths, with net migration of 149. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Simpson County?
$59,858. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $229,400, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,012 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Simpson County?
422 establishments, employing 8,630 people with an annual payroll of $406.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Simpson County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,727 jobs, 29.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,115 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,092, or $1,002 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Simpson County?
12 7(a) approvals totaling $10.4 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $254,650, plus 2 504 approvals worth $2.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Simpson County?
204 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $40.2 m. Multifamily was 22.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Simpson 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 Simpson County come from?
The largest single origin is Warren County, with 157 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,176 against $40,923 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Simpson 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 Simpson 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.
Simpson County
Cities and places in Simpson.
1 Census place lies wholly or partly in Simpson County. It carries enough published place level data for a page of its own and is linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | city | 10,360 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 12 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Simpson County, the largest being Auburn (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