The Town Files

Laurel County, Kentucky

62,983 people. The median home is worth $159,500 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $57,771.

Towns in Laurel County

Towns in Laurel County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
London7,572$170,200$47,59140.0

People and housing

Laurel CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$159,500$161,450
Median rent$813$837
Median household income$57,771$54,969
Median age40.139.1
Bachelor's degree or higher17.5%19.8%
Below the poverty line20.5%18.0%

Jobs and pay

26,264 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,566 a year.

Largest industries in Laurel CountyManufacturing3,669 jobs · $56,293Retail3,646 jobs · $34,966Health care & social assistan…3,488 jobs · $53,552Administrative & support3,269 jobs · $42,892Transportation & warehousing2,474 jobs · $56,590Hotels & restaurants2,262 jobs · $20,881
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Laurel County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 671 storm events in Laurel County from 1996 to 2026, with 28 deaths.

Storm events in Laurel County by type since 1996Hail117Flood23Tornado8High Wind8Heavy Snow25Flash Flood59Strong Wind9Frost/Freeze12Funnel Cloud10Winter Storm14
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Laurel County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 29, 2026Winter StormDR-4913: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
May 23, 2025Severe StormDR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
April 3, 2025Severe StormEM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 24, 2025Severe StormDR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
February 16, 2025Severe StormEM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).