NOTE. Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties. For more information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see Survey Methodology.

HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: In 2008 there were 123,000 households in Fayette County. The average household size was 2.2 people.

Families made up 57 percent of the households in Fayette County. This figure includes both married-couple families (41 percent) and other families (16 percent). Nonfamily households made up 43 percent of all households in Fayette County. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: Eight percent of the people living in Fayette County in 2008 were foreign born. Ninety-two percent was native, including 63 percent who were born in Kentucky.

Among people at least five years old living in Fayette County in 2008, 10 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 56 percent spoke Spanish and 44 percent spoke some other language; 49 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."

GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: In 2008, 75 percent of the people at least one year old living in Fayette County were living in the same residence one year earlier; 15 percent had moved during the past year from another residence in the same county, 6 percent from another county in the same state, 2 percent from another state, and 1 percent from abroad.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

EDUCATION: In 2008, 90 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 39 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Ten percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.

The total school enrollment in Fayette County was 80,000 in 2008. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 8,200 and elementary or high school enrollment was 38,000 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 34,000.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

DISABILITY: In Fayette County, among people at least five years old in 2008, 11 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 4 percent of people 5 to 15 years old, to 10 percent of people 16 to 64 years old, and to 36 percent of those 65 and older.

INDUSTRIES: In 2008, for the employed population 16 years and older, the leading industries in Fayette County were Educational services, and health care, and social assistance, 27 percent, and Retail trade, 12 percent.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: Among the most common occupations were: Management, professional, and related occupations, 41 percent; Sales and office occupations, 27 percent; Service occupations, 17 percent; Production, transportation, and material moving occupations, 9 percent; and Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations, 5 percent. Seventy-five percent of the people employed were Private wage and salary workers; 19 percent was Federal, state, or local government workers; and 6 percent was Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers.

TRAVEL TO WORK: Eighty percent of Fayette County workers drove to work alone in 2008, 11 percent carpooled, 2 percent took public transportation, and 5 percent used other means. The remaining 3 percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 19.9 minutes to get to work.

INCOME: The median income of households in Fayette County was $50,325. Eighty-six percent of the households received earnings and 15 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Twenty percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $15,688. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.

POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: In 2008, 16 percent of people were in poverty. Twenty-one percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 8 percent of people 65 years old and over. Eleven percent of all families and 33 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

POPULATION OF Fayette County: In 2008, Fayette County had a total population of 282,000 - 144,000 (51 percent) females and 138,000 (49 percent) males. The median age was 35.3 years. Twenty-two percent of the population was under 18 years and 11 percent was 65 years and older.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

For people reporting one race alone, 78 percent was White; 13 percent was Black or African American; less than 0.5 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native; 3 percent was Asian; less than 0.5 percent was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 3 percent was Some other race. Two percent reported Two or more races. Six percent of the people in Fayette County was Hispanic. Seventy-six percent of the people in Fayette County was White non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2008, Fayette County had a total of 133,000 housing units, 7 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 66 percent was in single-unit structures, 33 percent was in multi-unit structures, and 1 percent was mobile homes. Thirty-two percent of the housing units were built since 1990.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008

OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS: In 2008, Fayette County had 123,000 occupied housing units - 74,000 (60 percent) owner occupied and 50,000 (40 percent) renter occupied. One percent of the households did not have telephone service and 8 percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Multi Vehicle households were not rare. Thirty-nine percent had two vehicles and another 17 percent had three or more.

HOUSING COSTS: The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,197, nonmortgaged owners $362, and renters $678. Twenty-six percent of owners with mortgages, 7 percent of owners without mortgages, and 47 percent of renters in Fayette County spent 30 percent or more of household income on housing.

Source: American Community Survey, 2008