COUNTY
Barren County
Kentucky · 45,641 residents (2025 est.) · 487.365 sq mi
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Part of the Glasgow micropolitan area
The short version
Barren County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,628. Population has grown 18% 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 $178,000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
PEP 2025 EST:45,641 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)
Population, 1990 – 2024
202445K
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.2%(2,794)
5 to 96.2%(2,786)
10 to 147.1%(3,179)
15 to 196.3%(2,822)
20 to 245.1%(2,287)
25 to 3412.6%(5,648)
35 to 4412.7%(5,716)
45 to 5412.3%(5,529)
55 to 6413.4%(6,025)
65 to 7410.9%(4,899)
75 to 845.3%(2,394)
85 and over1.9%(859)
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy
$50,628
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,240 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Households earning $100K+
35.4%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.5%
Information13.4%
Finance & insurance6.4%
Wholesale trade5.3%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
Other services4.3%
Public administration3.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
Construction2%
Education & health services1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
Manufacturing0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
$178,000
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
3.5
+37%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
33
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Barren County on RentDataNow
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2000
White, non-Hispanic93.8%(35,662)
Black4.1%(1,553)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(355)
Asian0.4%(155)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.4%(39,283)
Black3.8%(1,697)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(1,991)
Asian0.9%(416)
Other3.5%(1,551)
29
+76%since 2009
from 16 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
26
−22%since 2020
from 34 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
Mexican2.4%(1,068)
Cuban0.8%(355)
Central American0.5%(216)
Puerto Rican0.4%(177)
Spaniard0.3%(118)
Guatemalan0.2%(94)
Honduran0.2%(79)
South American0.1%(50)
Chilean0.1%(44)
Costa Rican0.1%(43)
Colombian0%(6)
Asian origin
Japanese0.3%(133)
Filipino0.3%(117)
Korean0.2%(87)
Chinese0.1%(35)
Vietnamese0.1%(28)
Asian Indian0%(15)
Ancestry
English16.6%(7,480)
American15.1%(6,793)
German7.1%(3,206)
Irish7.1%(3,170)
Scottish2.5%(1,103)
French1.7%(753)
Italian1.1%(507)
British0.7%(336)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(327)
Welsh0.4%(159)
Danish0.3%(142)
Polish0.3%(138)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Brazilian0.3%(134)
Dutch0.2%(89)
Swiss0.2%(89)
Swedish0.2%(70)
Portuguese0.1%(66)
Arab0.1%(61)
Canadian0.1%(54)
Russian0.1%(40)
Norwegian0.1%(38)
Egyptian0.1%(31)
Greek0.1%(31)
Lebanese0.1%(30)
Finnish0.1%(29)
Lithuanian0.1%(29)
Subsaharan African0.1%(24)
Czech0%(18)
French Canadian0%(16)
West Indian0%(15)
Haitian0%(12)
Croatian0%(11)
Austrian0%(6)
Serbian0%(6)
Jamaican0%(3)
Section 05
Education
High school or higher
86.9%
+17.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Section 07
Work & employment
Section 08
People & community
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28%(4,873)
Married55.8%(9,710)
Widowed4%(694)
Divorced12.2%(2,123)
Women 15+
Never married20.1%(3,768)
Married51.6%(9,696)
Widowed11%(2,062)
Divorced17.3%(3,253)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper
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Compare Barren County to nearby counties
BARREN COUNTY VS
Metcalfe County
Income$51,473+2%
Home value$110,200−38%
Population10,583−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARREN COUNTY VS
Allen County
Income$61,403+21%
Home value$192,300+8%
Population22,536−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARREN COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$51,280+1%
Home value$115,900−35%
Population11,191−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARREN COUNTY VS
Hart County
Income$52,285+3%
Home value$146,000−18%
Population20,117−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Barren County, Kentucky?
Barren County, Kentucky has about 44,938 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Barren County, Kentucky?
The typical household in Barren County, Kentucky earns about $50,628 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Barren County, Kentucky expensive?
In Barren County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $178,000, and the typical rent is about $796 a month.
How educated are people in Barren County, Kentucky?
About 18.3% of adults age 25 and over in Barren County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Barren County, Kentucky?
About 19.4% of people in Barren County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Barren County, Kentucky grown since 1990?
Yes, Barren County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,937 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024