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COUNTY

Ballard County

Kentucky · 7,594 residents (2025 est.) · 247.095 sq mi
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The short version

Ballard County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,164. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 18% 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 $145,800. With a median age of 45.0, 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 45.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,654
−8%since 2000
from 8,286 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
31 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 33 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.0
+14%since 2000
from 39.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,594 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K8K8K8K1990201020202024Ballard County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.3%(326)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(520)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.9%(378)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.4%(417)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.1%(469)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.9%(832)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(885)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414%(1,069)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(1,093)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413%(997)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(453)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(215)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,164
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,130 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,589
+87%since 2000
from $19,035 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+20.6 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
−3%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance10.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$145,800
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$817
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 81.9% in 2000
24.0% rent
Vacancy rate
13.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
26.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+25%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
72
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ballard County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(7,867)
Black2.9%(238)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(52)
Asian0.2%(14)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91%(6,968)
Black3.6%(275)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(119)
Asian0.1%(10)
Other3.7%(282)
Diversity Score
21
+41%since 2009
from 15 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
+127%since 2020
from 10 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.4%(31)
Cuban0.3%(26)
Colombian0.1%(10)
Dominican0.1%(5)
Guatemalan0.1%(4)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(12)
Asian Indian0.1%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English20.4%(1,560)
American11.8%(902)
Irish10.5%(806)
German8.2%(629)
Scottish2.5%(189)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(85)
Italian1%(77)
Polish0.7%(51)
French0.5%(40)
British0.4%(28)
Welsh0.2%(13)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.2%(12)
Norwegian0.2%(12)
Nigerian0.1%(7)
Haitian0.1%(7)
Swedish0.1%(6)
Danish0.1%(5)
Ukrainian0.1%(4)
Kenyan0%(3)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.4%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+17.5 ptssince 2000
from 76.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.5 min
+65%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
87.2%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% 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
4.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.6%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 56.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.8%
−22.5 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−43.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−84.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.6%
+17.6 ptssince 2017
from 70.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.3%(829)
Married60.4%(1,978)
Widowed1.6%(51)
Divorced12.8%(419)
Women 15+
Never married14.6%(460)
Married57%(1,798)
Widowed12.1%(380)
Divorced16.3%(515)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Ballard County to nearby counties

BALLARD COUNTY VS
Pulaski County
Income$42,463−36%
Home value$85,100−42%
Population4,820−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BALLARD COUNTY VS
Carlisle County
Income$62,439−6%
Home value$120,400−17%
Population4,747−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BALLARD COUNTY VS
McCracken County
Income$64,373−3%
Home value$188,100+29%
Population67,553+790%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BALLARD COUNTY VS
Massac County
Income$65,116−2%
Home value$121,900−16%
Population13,502+78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ballard County, Kentucky?

Ballard County, Kentucky has about 7,654 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ballard County, Kentucky?

The typical household in Ballard County, Kentucky earns about $66,164 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ballard County, Kentucky expensive?

In Ballard County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $145,800, and the typical rent is about $817 a month.

How educated are people in Ballard County, Kentucky?

About 18.4% of adults age 25 and over in Ballard County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ballard County, Kentucky?

About 15.0% of people in Ballard County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ballard County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Ballard County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 248 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9502
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 42053ZIP 42087ZIP 42056ZIP 42024ZIP 42022ZIP 42060
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →