Kent County Demographics

A map of Kent County's Population by Race

Kent County, Maryland has an estimated population of 19,346, a less than 1% change from the 19,198 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 75.9% White, 14.0% Black, 5.8% Hispanic, 2.7% Multiracial, 1.3% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kent County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kent has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Maryland overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kent County, that probability was 41.4% in 2020 and 40.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kent County is ranked the 24th most populous county in Maryland, out of 24 counties. Kent County was ranked the 24th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Kent County's White Population

14,686 residents of Kent County, or 75.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kent County is significantly higher than in Maryland overall, where 46.6% of the population is White. Kent County ranks 7th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.1%. White residents' share of Kent County's population has increased from 74.9% to 75.9%.

Kent County is more White than neighboring Harford County (71.6% White), Caroline County (72.5% White), and Talbot County (73.8% White). Kent County is less White than neighboring Queen Anne's County (82.5% White), and Cecil County (80.4% White).

Kent County's Black Population

2,704 residents of Kent County, or 14.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kent County is considerably lower than in Maryland overall, where 28.9% of the population is Black. Kent County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.7%. Black residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 14.0%.

Kent County is more Black than neighboring Queen Anne's County (5.5% Black), Cecil County (7.1% Black), Caroline County (12.6% Black), and Talbot County (12.2% Black). Kent County is less Black than neighboring Harford County (14.1% Black).

Kent County's Asian Population

242 residents of Kent County, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kent County is lower than in Maryland overall, where 6.5% of the population is Asian. Kent County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 3.2%. Asian residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Kent County is more Asian than neighboring Queen Anne's County (1% Asian), Cecil County (1.2% Asian), and Caroline County (0.7% Asian). Kent County is less Asian than neighboring Harford County (3% Asian), and Talbot County (1.4% Asian).

Kent County's Hispanic Population

1,126 residents of Kent County, or 5.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kent County is lower than in Maryland overall, where 12.5% of the population is Hispanic. Kent County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 6.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.8%.

Kent County is more Hispanic than neighboring Queen Anne's County (5.7% Hispanic), and Cecil County (5.6% Hispanic). Kent County is less Hispanic than neighboring Caroline County (9.3% Hispanic), and Talbot County (9.6% Hispanic).

Kent County's Native American/Other Population

67 residents of Kent County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kent County is comparable to the share in Maryland overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Kent County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 22.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Kent County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Queen Anne's County (0.7% Native American/Other), Cecil County (0.7% Native American/Other), Harford County (0.8% Native American/Other), Caroline County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Talbot County (0.4% Native American/Other).

Kent County's Multiracial Population

521 residents of Kent County, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kent County is comparable to the share in Maryland overall, where 4.6% of the population is Multiracial. Kent County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 21.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Kent County's population has decreased from 3.5% to 2.7%.

Kent County is more Multiracial than neighboring Talbot County (2.5% Multiracial). Kent County is less Multiracial than neighboring Queen Anne's County (4.6% Multiracial), Cecil County (5% Multiracial), Harford County (4.7% Multiracial), and Caroline County (4.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.