2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 16,321. The median age was 44.3 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 10.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population. There were 6,653 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 17,241 people, 7,493 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The
population density was . There were 8,472 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 86.92%
White, 11.93%
Black or
African American, 0.21%
Native American, 0.15%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander, 0.27% from
other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Fayette County were: • 44.9%
English • 16.9%
"American" • 4.1%
Irish There were 7,493 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were
married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males. The median income for a household in the county was $28,539, and the median income for a family was $34,560. Males had a median income of $29,239 versus $20,606 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $14,439. About 13.10% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Life expectancy Of 3,143 counties in the United States in 2013, Fayette County ranked 2,882 in the longevity of male residents and 3,091 of female residents. Males in Fayette County lived an average of 71.2 years and females lived an average of 75.3 years compared to the national average for longevity of 76.5 for males and 81.2 for females. The average longevity of men in Fayette County increased by 2.0 years from 1985 to 2013 compared to a national average for the same period of an increased life span for men of 5.5 years. The average longevity, however, for females in Fayette County declined by 4.2 years between 1985 and 2013 compared to the national average for the same period of an increased life span of 3.1 years for women. High rates of smoking and obesity and a low rate of physical activity appear to be contributing factors to the low level of longevity for both sexes. One study concluded that Fayette County between 1985 and 2010 was one of the few U.S. counties which saw a decline in the longevity of women and that the decline in female longevity in Fayette Country was the largest of any county in the nation. ==Education==