Five of the Fastest Growing Cities in Kentucky in 2016

Kentucky, the ‘Bluegrass State’, is the 37th most extensive state, and the 26th most populous. Its largest city if Louisville, but several cities are quickly catching up to it. This article will review the five fastest growing cities in Kentucky based solely on population growth. However, it will also analyze other factors such as housing, median household income, families, and households.

Campbellsville

Campbellsville encompasses a land mass area of 7.23 square-miles and a water mass area of 0.13 square- miles. It is considered one of the most diverse cities in Kentucky, and as of 1st July 2016 the city registered a total population of 10,958 people. Campbellsville registered a population growth of 0.78% from 2010 to 2015. However, its momentum has been reducing as the population is expected to grow at a dismal rate of only 0.2% from 2016 to 2020. The city has 4,429 households of an average size of 2.17, which is 0.3% higher than in 2010. Family households, on the other hand, total 2,617, and the total number of population in families is estimated at 7,233; the average family constitutes three people.

The average per capita income for residents of Campbellsville is estimated at $17,904. The median household income is relatively higher at $29,123, while the average household income, on the other hand, stands at $43,619. The residents occupy 91% of the 4,866 housing units in the city, and the average house goes for about $130,000. Of all the houses, about 2,216 are rentals while 2,214 are owner occupied. Compared to other cities in Kentucky, Campbellsville ranks 40th when it comes to population and 157th on population density. What’s more, the average household’s income ranks 450th, while the per capita income of residents stands at the 427th position.

Hazard

Hazard is slightly bigger than Campbellsville as it measures 7.45 square-miles by 0.15 square-miles. However, its population is slightly lower as it registered a total of 6,031 residents on July 1, 2016. Nevertheless, it is the fourth fastest growing city in the state for several reasons. To start with, per capita income is fairly good at $20,809, with the median household income standing at $37,415 and the average household income at $48,966. The total number of family households is 1,485 while total households number 2,412; the average family comprises three people. Since the population is smaller than that of Campbellsville, its housing units total about half of the latter’s at 2,765 units; what’s more, about 12% of the houses were vacant as of 1st July 2016.

Although it ranks as the fourth fastest growing city in Kentucky, Hazard registered only 0.1% growth from 2010 to 2015. What’s more, the population is expected to shrink by 0.21% from 2016 to 2020, and with it the number of families and households. Compared to other cities in Kentucky, Hazard ranks 78 in terms of total population and 297th in population density. The average resident of this city ranks 290th in terms of per capita income, and median households rank 311th.

Vine Grove

Vine Grove is a relatively small city with a smaller population compared to Hazard and Campbellsville, but it ranks as the third fastest growing city in Kentucky. It has registered a higher population growth than the two former cities as its population grew by 1.75% from 2010 to 2015, and as of 1st July 2016 its residents totaled 5,493. It has a population density of 910 and a relatively higher diversity index of 50. The total number of households in the city is 2,092 with family households numbering 1,503 and the average family comprising of 3 people. Considering that the average residents has a per capita income of $26,642, it is no wonder that more people have been migrating to Vine Grove than Hazard and

Campbellsville. What’s more, the average household income stands at $70,202 while the median household income stands at $57,349. Compared to other cities in Kentucky, City Grove ranks 85th when it comes to population and 270th in population index. Additionally, the median household income ranks 101 while the per capita income ranks 137th. There is plenty of housing in Vine Grove as it has a total of 2,329 housing units, of which about 237 were vacant as of 1st July 2016. However, the houses are slightly more expensive than in Campbellsville as the average home value is $179,680. The city’s population is expected to further grow by 1.14% from 2016 to

Mount Washington

The city of Mount Washington ranks second among the fastest growing cities in Kentucky, but it has the highest population of the five cities under review. As of 1st July, 2016, the city registered a total population of 12,574 people, which is a 1.97% growth form 2010. Of all the residents, about 12,500 people are in households while 10,806 people live in family households; and, like the other cities, the average family comprises three people. The total number of households in Mount Washington is 4,737, while family households number 3,543. The households in this city also do better than in the other cities as the median household income is $59,983 while the average household income is $67,993; residents also do well as the per capita income is $25,839.

What’s more, the high population has seen a growth in housing as there are a total of 5,049 housing units, and only 312 of these were vacant as of 1st July 2016. Expectedly, the cost of housing is higher as the average home value is $201,235. Compared to other cities in the state, Mount Washington ranks 36th in terms of population and 138th in terms of population density. What’s more, it is expected to rank higher in the coming years as the population is expected to grow by 1.67% from 2016 to 2020.

Wilmore

Wilmore is the geographically smallest city of the five cities under review as it has a land mass area of only 4.06 square-miles and a water mass of 0.03 square-miles. Nevertheless, it is the fastest growing city in Wilmore with a total population of 6,179 people, which is a 0.91% growth since 2010. Households in Wilmore are fewer than in the other cities as they total 1,820 households and 1,324 family households. The median household income is $48,772, the average household income $64,794, and the per capita income is $23,340. Consequently, the number of houses are fewer as there are 2,046 house units, and yet 11% of these are not occupied; what’s more, the houses are just as expensive as in Mount Washington as the average home value is $210,218. Nevertheless, the population is expected to grow by 1.09% from 2016 to 2020.