Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Fayette County, KY

Welcome to Fayette County.

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Fayette County is the second most populous in the state of Kentucky, representing 7% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 26%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $25 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Fayette County voted four out of six times for Democratic candidates and two times for Republicans.

Fayette County comprises Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Lexington.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Bourbon County, Clark County, Jessamine County, Madison County, Scott County, and Woodford County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
44.82%51.67%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
46.18%52.88%+
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
51.74%46.92%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
49.32%48.3%+
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
51.19%41.74%+
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
59.32%38.55%+
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%26%
Government
Enterprises
21%28%
Private Industries79%25%
Agriculture2%26%
Mining<1%89%
Utilities<1%73%
Construction5%22%
Manufacturing7%-5%
– Durable5%-10%
– Nondurable2%8%
Trade13%35%
– Wholesale6%33%
– Retail7%36%
Transportation3%18%
Information3%33%
Finance & Insurance5%31%
Real Estate11%24%
Professional &
Business Services
12%28%
Educational Services1%6%
Healthcare &
Social Services
10%28%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%29%
Accommodation &
Food Services
4%17%
Other Services23%74%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers4994
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
7494
📺 Electronics & Appliance2690
🛒 Grocery Stores10694
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores4293
⚕️ Health & Personal Care13295
⛽ Gasoline Stations9295
👕 Clothing Stores14795
👠 Shoe Stores2789
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry2588
🏸 Sporting Goods2792
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers1491
🏬 Department Stores4995
💐 Florists1089
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops2791
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 1486
🍺 Bars & Taverns5696
🍽️ Full-service restaurants27495
🍔 Limited-service restaurants31995
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers21795
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation7196
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%119%$195,200 N/A
Top 20%48%$126,100 $145,100
Next highest 20%25%$67,000 $85,400
Middle 20%15%$40,600 $52,000
Second lowest 20%8%$22,000 $30,500
Bottom 20%3%Below $10,000$14,300
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries59%$54,000
Self-Employment7%$13,900
Investment Income110%$13,500
Social Security40%$20,900
Supplemental Security14%Below $10,000
Public Assistance5%Below $10,000
Retirement28%$19,600
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
5%4%4%4%
$25K
– $49K
3%7%5%6%
$50K
– $99K
2%12%9%6%
$100K
– $199K
<1%9%9%4%
$200K
& more
<1%3%5%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$33,800 $25,100
African-American
Hispanic
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$26,200 $18,100
Highschool & GED$34,800 $18,800
Some College to
Associate’s
$43,800 $26,200
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$29,900 $34,800
Graduate Degree$68,700 $58,100
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$54,900 $42,300
STEM2$77,800 $27,300
Gray-Collar3$47,600
Pink-Collar4Below $10,000
Sales5$50,600 $21,400
Blue-Collar6$33,200 $33,100
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+++$
Drought++
Earthquake+$
Hail++$
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm+$
Landslide+
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding++$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+++$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather++
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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