Most Populated Cities in Kentucky
Cities ranked by total population · 50 cities · Updated 2026-04-05
This ranking shows the most populated cities in Kentucky based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. All 50 cities are sorted by total population from highest to lowest. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), Kentucky leads the ranking with a value of 627,210 and a population of 627,210.
The top three cities are Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), Kentucky (627,210), Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky (321,122), and Bowling Green (73,638). Data is updated nightly from official Census APIs. Click any city name to view its full demographic profile, or see the national most populated cities ranking to compare across all 50 states. You can also explore all cities in Kentucky.
| Rank | City | Value | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), Kentucky | 627,210 | 627,210 |
| #2 | Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky | 321,122 | 321,122 |
| #3 | Bowling Green | 73,638 | 73,638 |
| #4 | Owensboro | 60,112 | 60,112 |
| #5 | Covington | 40,902 | 40,902 |
| #6 | Georgetown | 38,206 | 38,206 |
| #7 | Richmond | 35,498 | 35,498 |
| #8 | Florence | 32,334 | 32,334 |
| #9 | Elizabethtown | 31,870 | 31,870 |
| #10 | Nicholasville | 31,625 | 31,625 |
| #11 | Hopkinsville | 31,011 | 31,011 |
| #12 | Independence | 29,024 | 29,024 |
| #13 | Jeffersontown | 28,988 | 28,988 |
| #14 | Frankfort | 28,452 | 28,452 |
| #15 | Henderson | 27,994 | 27,994 |
| #16 | Paducah | 26,894 | 26,894 |
| #17 | Radcliff | 22,967 | 22,967 |
| #18 | Ashland | 21,405 | 21,405 |
| #19 | Erlanger | 19,677 | 19,677 |
| #20 | Madisonville | 19,442 | 19,442 |
| #21 | Winchester | 19,133 | 19,133 |
| #22 | Mount Washington | 18,228 | 18,228 |
| #23 | Burlington | 18,090 | 18,090 |
| #24 | Murray | 17,888 | 17,888 |
| #25 | St. Matthews | 17,491 | 17,491 |
| #26 | Shelbyville | 17,436 | 17,436 |
| #27 | Fort Thomas | 17,242 | 17,242 |
| #28 | Danville | 17,235 | 17,235 |
| #29 | Berea | 15,557 | 15,557 |
| #30 | Shively | 15,556 | 15,556 |
| #31 | Glasgow | 15,141 | 15,141 |
| #32 | Shepherdsville | 14,351 | 14,351 |
| #33 | Newport | 14,039 | 14,039 |
| #34 | Bardstown | 13,673 | 13,673 |
| #35 | Somerset | 12,108 | 12,108 |
| #36 | Lawrenceburg | 11,838 | 11,838 |
| #37 | Campbellsville | 11,523 | 11,523 |
| #38 | Fort Campbell North | 11,483 | 11,483 |
| #39 | Lyndon | 10,956 | 10,956 |
| #40 | Alexandria | 10,430 | 10,430 |
| #41 | Versailles | 10,382 | 10,382 |
| #42 | Francisville | 10,313 | 10,313 |
| #43 | Franklin | 10,254 | 10,254 |
| #44 | La Grange | 10,188 | 10,188 |
| #45 | Paris | 10,107 | 10,107 |
| #46 | Mayfield | 9,905 | 9,905 |
| #47 | Middletown | 9,622 | 9,622 |
| #48 | Oakbrook | 9,459 | 9,459 |
| #49 | Middlesborough | 9,258 | 9,258 |
| #50 | Elsmere | 9,151 | 9,151 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the most populated in Kentucky?
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), Kentucky ranks #1 for most populated cities in Kentucky with a value of 627,210 and a population of 627,210.
How many cities are ranked for most populated cities in Kentucky?
There are 50 cities ranked for most populated cities in Kentucky. Rankings are based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
How does Kentucky compare to other states for most populated cities?
You can compare Kentucky's city rankings to other states or view the national ranking at our national most populated cities page, which lists the top 100 cities across all 50 states.