6 cities
| City | Rank | County | 2026 Pop. ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paintsville | 1 | Johnson County | 4,038 |
| Beattyville | 2 | Lee County | 2,103 |
| West Van Lear | 3 | Johnson County | 1,506 |
| Annville | 4 | Jackson County | 1,193 |
| Van Lear | 5 | Johnson County | 640 |
| Campton | 6 | Wolfe County | 297 |
Johnson County, Jackson County, Lee County, and Wolfe County are the counties generally considered part of East Kentucky.