Kentucky has 144 designated opportunity zones, including 139 low-income communities, plus 5 non-low-income contiguous tracts.
Urban vs. Rural
Kentucky gave preference to their rural communities when they nominated their opportunity zones. Statewide, just 43 percent of Kentucky’s census tracts are rural, but rural tracts make up 64 percent of the state’s opportunity zones.
Kentucky Opportunity Zones Map
Website: Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
Analysis of Kentucky’s Opportunity Zones
| Characteristics | Designated Opportunity Zones | Eligible, nondesignated | All state tracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptives (N) | |||
| Total number of tracts | 144 | 624 | 1,115 |
| Low-income communities | 139 | 434 | 573 |
| Contiguous | 5 | 190 | 195 |
| Economic (average or average %) | |||
| Median household income | $30,427 | $38,235 | $46,398 |
| Poverty rate | 32.25% | 23.47% | 20.11% |
| Unemployment rate | 11.55% | 9.39% | 8.35% |
| Housing (average or average %) | |||
| Median home value | $91,035 | $100,445 | $127,744 |
| Median rent/month | $584 | $645 | $708 |
| Homeownership | 55.94% | 64.73% | 66.84% |
| Severe rent burden | 23.17% | 20.00% | 19.11% |
| Vacancy rate | 16.32% | 14.08% | 12.33% |
| Demographic (average %) | |||
| White alone | 80.14% | 84.69% | 85.10% |
| Black alone | 13.93% | 8.82% | 8.34% |
| Hispanic | 2.96% | 3.44% | 3.26% |
| Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders alone | 0.70% | 0.92% | 1.18% |
| Younger than 18 | 22.16% | 22.76% | 22.67% |
| Older than 64 | 14.62% | 14.92% | 14.94% |
| Education (average %) | |||
| Age 25+ with high school degree or less | 58.13% | 56.53% | 49.92% |
| Age 25+ with bachelor’s degree or higher | 14.64% | 15.93% | 21.76% |
| Socioeconomic change flag (%) | 0.00% | 0.48% | 0.90% |
| Geography (%) | |||
| In a metro area | 36.11% | 47.44% | 56.59% |
| In a micro area | 22.92% | 20.19% | 18.83% |
| Non-core-based statistical area (not in a metro nor micro area) | 40.97% | 32.37% | 24.57% |
Data Source: Urban Institute
Kentucky Counties & Cities
List of counties in Kentucky: Adair, Allen, Anderson, Ballard, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Daviess, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Graves, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hancock, Hardin, Harlan, Harrison, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, McCracken, McCreary, McLean, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Mason, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Scott, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Trimble, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford
List of top 150 U.S. cities located in Kentucky: Louisville, Lexington
Census tracts designated as opportunity zones in Kentucky
| State | County | Census Tract Number | Tract Type | ACS Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Adair | 21001970500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Ballard | 21007950200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Ballard | 21007950300 | Non-LIC Contiguous | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Barren | 21009950200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Bath | 21011970200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Bell | 21013960600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Boone | 21015070311 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Boyd | 21019030200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Boyd | 21019031001 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Boyle | 21021930300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Bracken | 21023950100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Breathitt | 21025920100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Breathitt | 21025920300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Breathitt | 21025920500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Breathitt | 21025920600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Bullitt | 21029020701 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Bullitt | 21029020800 | Non-LIC Contiguous | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Butler | 21031930300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Calloway | 21035010400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Campbell | 21037050500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Carlisle | 21039960200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Carroll | 21041950200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Carter | 21043960100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Casey | 21045950300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Christian | 21047200300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Clark | 21049020106 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Clay | 21051950300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Clay | 21051950400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Clinton | 21053970202 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Cumberland | 21057950100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Daviess | 21059000200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Daviess | 21059000300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Edmonson | 21061980100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Estill | 21065920200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Estill | 21065920300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067000101 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067000102 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067000200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067000300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067000900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067001100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fayette | 21067001300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fleming | 21069920100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Floyd | 21071920100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Franklin | 21073071200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Fulton | 21075960100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Gallatin | 21077960101 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Grant | 21081920300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Graves | 21083020100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Green | 21087930200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Greenup | 21089040501 | Non-LIC Contiguous | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Greenup | 21089040502 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Harlan | 21095970100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Hart | 21099970400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Henderson | 21101020602 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Hopkins | 21107971100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jackson | 21109960100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111000200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111000600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111001500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111001800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111002300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111002400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111002700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111002800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111003000 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111003500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111003700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111004900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111005000 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111005100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111005300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111005900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111006200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111006500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jefferson | 21111007100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Jessamine | 21113060504 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Johnson | 21115960400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Kenton | 21117060700 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Kenton | 21117060900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Kenton | 21117063800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Kenton | 21117067000 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Kenton | 21117067100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Knott | 21119960100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Knox | 21121930500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Larue | 21123960102 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Leslie | 21131920100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Letcher | 21133950100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Lewis | 21135930300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Lincoln | 21137920101 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Lincoln | 21137920103 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Logan | 21141960500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | McCracken | 21145030300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | McCracken | 21145030400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | McCreary | 21147960300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Madison | 21151010701 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Madison | 21151010800 | Non-LIC Contiguous | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Madison | 21151010903 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Magoffin | 21153970100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Magoffin | 21153970200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Magoffin | 21153970400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Martin | 21159950100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Martin | 21159950200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Mason | 21161960100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Menifee | 21165960100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Metcalfe | 21169960300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Montgomery | 21173920200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Montgomery | 21173920302 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Montgomery | 21173920400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Montgomery | 21173920500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Morgan | 21175950300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Muhlenberg | 21177960200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Muhlenberg | 21177960400 | Non-LIC Contiguous | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Nicholas | 21181960200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Ohio | 21183920300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Ohio | 21183920500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Owen | 21187970200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Owsley | 21189930100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Perry | 21193970500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Perry | 21193970600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Perry | 21193971000 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195930100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195930300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195930400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195930500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195931100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195931800 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pike | 21195931900 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Powell | 21197970200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pulaski | 21199930100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Pulaski | 21199931102 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Robertson | 21201970100 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Rowan | 21205950200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Russell | 21207960102 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Simpson | 21213970400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Taylor | 21217920500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Todd | 21219950300 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Union | 21225950201 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Warren | 21227010200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Wayne | 21231920400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Webster | 21233960400 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Whitley | 21235920500 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Whitley | 21235920600 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |
| Kentucky | Wolfe | 21237930200 | Low-Income Community | 2011-2015 |