CensusEasy
CITY

Harlan

Kentucky · 1,822 residents (2025 est.) · 1.36 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Harlan has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $32,408. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $89,200. The poverty rate of 33.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 49% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,160
+4%since 2000
from 2,081 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,588 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 1,530 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.8
−2%since 2000
from 41.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,822 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Harlan
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,408
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $17,270 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,316
+43%since 2000
from $15,572 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 32.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.517
−12%since 2010
from 0.590 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing5%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade4.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services3.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Wholesale trade3%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services0.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$89,200
−29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$543
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $259 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
41.2%
−8.2 ptssince 2000
from 49.4% in 2000
58.8% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
−32%since 2000
from 4.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
34
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harlan on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.4%(1,881)
Black7%(146)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(13)
Asian0.9%(18)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.9%(415)
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(2,006)
Black2.7%(58)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(8)
Asian1.5%(32)
Other2.6%(56)
Diversity Score17%(367)
Diversity Score
17
−15%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.2%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
78.8%
+17.1 ptssince 2000
from 61.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.0%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+72%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% 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
14.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
44.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 48.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
25.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.9%
−16.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
42.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
Female
57.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 55.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.1%
−37.4 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2012
from 27.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−79.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.9%
+27.5 ptssince 2017
from 58.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Harlan

Crescent City
Pop 1,728
Eatonville
Pop 2,333
Century
Pop 1,799
Cypress Quarters
Pop 1,697
Places similar to Harlan
Head to head

Compare Harlan to nearby cities

HARLAN VS
Middlesborough
Income$31,106−4%
Home value$99,900+12%
Population8,776+382%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN VS
Morristown
Income$47,917+48%
Home value$181,100+103%
Population33,517+1740%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN VS
Kingsport
Income$52,490+62%
Home value$234,100+162%
Population57,530+3058%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN VS
Bloomingdale
Income$52,317+61%
Home value$165,500+86%
Population9,292+410%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harlan, Kentucky?

Harlan, Kentucky has about 2,160 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Harlan, Kentucky?

The typical household in Harlan, Kentucky earns about $32,408 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harlan, Kentucky expensive?

In Harlan, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $89,200, and the typical rent is about $543 a month.

How educated are people in Harlan, Kentucky?

About 26.2% of adults age 25 and over in Harlan, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harlan, Kentucky?

About 33.1% of people in Harlan, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harlan, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Harlan, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 625 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Kentucky
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Harlan with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →