CensusEasy
CITY

Horse Cave

Kentucky · 2,276 residents (2025 est.) · 3.145 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Horse Cave has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,118. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 9% 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 $113,700. With a median age of 48.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
9% 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
2,143
−5%since 2000
from 2,252 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
681 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 716 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
48.2
+20%since 2000
from 40.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,276 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Horse Cave
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,118
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,134 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,018
+34%since 2000
from $17,861 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.8%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
34.8%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 27.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.390
−16%since 2010
from 0.465 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade27.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$113,700
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$651
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $298 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
53.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 56.7% in 2000
46.5% rent
Vacancy rate
15.0%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.5%
−11.6 ptssince 2009
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.0%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
−16%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Horse Cave on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.5%(1,813)
Black17.9%(404)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(13)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score38.3%(862)
2024
White, non-Hispanic71.9%(1,540)
Black16%(342)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(40)
Asian1.3%(28)
Other9%(193)
Diversity Score56.2%(1,204)
Diversity Score
56
+47%since 2000
from 38 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.3%
+18.0 ptssince 2000
from 63.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+66%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
85.5%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% 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
11.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
35.3%
−17.4 ptssince 2011
from 52.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
16.5%
−45.3 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−34.4 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
37.3%
+15.8 ptssince 2012
from 21.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.8%
−80.8 ptssince 2013
from 88.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+18.8 ptssince 2017
from 65.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Horse Cave

Blountstown
Pop 2,272
Manatee Road
Pop 2,426
Apalachicola
Pop 2,473
Grove City
Pop 2,106
Places similar to Horse Cave
Head to head

Compare Horse Cave to nearby cities

HORSE CAVE VS
Glasgow
Income$43,074−16%
Home value$173,900+53%
Population15,302+572%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HORSE CAVE VS
Bowling Green
Income$48,873−4%
Home value$241,900+113%
Population78,505+3349%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HORSE CAVE VS
Campbellsville
Income$49,644−3%
Home value$164,600+45%
Population11,783+418%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HORSE CAVE VS
Elizabethtown
Income$60,760+19%
Home value$245,900+116%
Population35,448+1457%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Horse Cave, Kentucky?

Horse Cave, Kentucky has about 2,143 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Horse Cave, Kentucky?

The typical household in Horse Cave, Kentucky earns about $51,118 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Horse Cave, Kentucky expensive?

In Horse Cave, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $113,700, and the typical rent is about $651 a month.

How educated are people in Horse Cave, Kentucky?

About 8.9% of adults age 25 and over in Horse Cave, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Horse Cave, Kentucky?

About 34.8% of people in Horse Cave, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Horse Cave, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Horse Cave, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 201 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →