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CITY

Barlow

Kentucky · 635 residents (2025 est.) · 0.551 sq mi
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The short version

Barlow has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $27,054. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 151 residents. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $68,100. At a median age of 32.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It falls in the bottom 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
564
−21%since 2000
from 715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,024 / sq mi
−21%since 2000
from 1,298 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.3
−15%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:635 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4045136237328421990201020202024Barlow
2024564
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$27,054
−36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,333 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,330
+24%since 2000
from $15,564 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
15.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
36.9%
+18.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
−16%since 2010
from 0.536 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services17.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration16.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade15.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information7.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$68,100
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$538
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.6%
−21.9 ptssince 2000
from 69.5% in 2000
52.4% rent
Vacancy rate
18.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.3%
+28.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+63%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
16
RELATED:See current rent listings in Barlow on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(657)
Black4.8%(34)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(5)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score13.3%(95)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(531)
Black4.4%(25)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.4%(8)
Diversity Score13.9%(79)
Diversity Score
14
+5%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
5.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 1.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+18%since 2000
from 17.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
89.2%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.5%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.5%
−8.5 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 46.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
18.3%
−47.8 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.6%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
Female
56.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.1%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.9%
−5.4 ptssince 2012
from 23.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.5%
−83.0 ptssince 2013
from 85.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.5%
+11.7 ptssince 2017
from 68.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 99.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Barlow, Kentucky?

Barlow, Kentucky has about 564 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Barlow, Kentucky?

The typical household in Barlow, Kentucky earns about $27,054 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Barlow, Kentucky expensive?

In Barlow, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $68,100, and the typical rent is about $538 a month.

How educated are people in Barlow, Kentucky?

About 5.6% of adults age 25 and over in Barlow, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Barlow, Kentucky?

About 36.9% of people in Barlow, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Barlow, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Barlow, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 155 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →