The 2011 Census recorded a parish population of 1,926,[2] making it the fourth largest settlement in Rutland, after Oakham, Uppingham and Cottesmore.

Ketton ward, which includes the parishes of Barrowden, Tinwell and Tixover, is represented by two councillors on Rutland County Council.

An alternative explanation for the first syllable is that it is the Common Brittonic word found in modern Welsh as coed ("woodland").

A further suggestion on these lines is that the second syllable originated as the word found in Welsh as hen ("old"), in which case the name once meant "old wood", later giving its name to a river.

The village has a post office and general store, a library, a branch GP surgery, two pubs (the Railway Inn and the Northwick Arms), a sports centre, a playschool and a Church of England primary school which in 2021/2022 had 185 pupils on its roll.

Ketton Cement Works opened in 1928 and by November that year the number of staff had risen to 250.

However, issues surrounding fast jets flying from RAF Cottesmore meant that a planning permission was never granted.

A proposal from REG Windpower to install two wind turbines near Steadfold Lane was withdrawn in August 2012.