People are moving to Kentucky from these states the most, Census data shows

Kentucky saw modest net population growth from July 2024 to July 2025, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, but where are new residents coming from?

The Census Bureau estimated Kentucky had 4,606,864 residents as of July 1, 2025, up by 18,492 individuals compared to the previous year. While some states lost residents during the pandemic, the Bluegrass State’s population is up from its 2020 figure of 4,506,287.

A handful of states are leading in moves to Kentucky, including some in the Midwest, as well as the South.

One of the leading contributors to Kentucky’s recent population growth is immigration, as reported by WEKU. The Census Bureau reports 4.7% of residents are immigrants.

While Kentucky is gaining residents overall, some of the commonwealth’s counties are performing better than others for growth. Jefferson, Fayette, Warren, Boone, Kenton, Madison, Scott, Jessamine, Bullitt and Nelson counties led in population growth from 2023 to 2024.

Conversely, Pike, Floyd, Perry, Letcher, Harlan, McCreary, Martin, Christian, Knott and Larue counties saw the greatest population decreases in the state over the same period, according to Census data.

Here’s what to know about migration to and from Kentucky in 2024, the most recent year for which Census data is available.

Where are new Kentucky residents coming from?

Here’s a roundup of the top 10 states with movers to Kentucky in 2024, according to the Census Bureau:

1. Ohio: 14,376 movers to Kentucky

2. Tennessee: 14,181

3. Indiana: 7,756

4. Florida: 7,326

5. California: 6,856

6. Georgia: 5,106

7. North Carolina: 3,509

8. Illinois: 3,102

9. West Virginia: 2,915

10. Texas: 2,807

Some of the same states that saw the greatest number of residents move to Kentucky also made the list for top states residents are moving to. Ohio was the No. 1 destination state for former Kentucky residents, with 13,444 movers, with Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan and Alabama rounding out the top 10.

Note: An AI tool assisted with organizing the data for this story. A Lexington Herald-Leader journalist reviewed the data and wrote the story. It was also edited by a Herald-Leader editor. You can read more about our AI policy here.

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Meredith Howard

Belleville News-Democrat

Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription