The Town Files

Rowan County, Kentucky

24,578 people. The median home is worth $161,800 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $54,321.

Towns in Rowan County

Towns in Rowan County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Morehead7,151$184,900$36,74122.0

People and housing

Rowan CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$161,800$161,450
Median rent$825$837
Median household income$54,321$54,969
Median age31.739.1
Bachelor's degree or higher25.9%19.8%
Below the poverty line24.2%18.0%

Jobs and pay

10,490 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,895 a year.

Largest industries in Rowan CountyManufacturing1,389 jobs · $55,958Retail1,347 jobs · $32,045Transportation & warehousing480 jobs · $45,784Finance & insurance243 jobs · $58,225Other services152 jobs · $24,224Administrative & support144 jobs · $40,416
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Rowan County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 415 storm events in Rowan County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Rowan County by type since 1996Hail40Flood20High Wind11Ice Storm10Heavy Rain5Heavy Snow35Flash Flood48Strong Wind8Frost/Freeze13Winter Storm8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Rowan County has been included in 32 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
April 3, 2025Severe StormEM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 16, 2025Severe StormEM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides
November 26, 2024Tropical StormDR-4848: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene
March 31, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4592: Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides
March 28, 2020BiologicalDR-4497: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).