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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Barren County

Kentucky · 38,033 residents · 487 sq mi
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The short version

Barren County is home to 38,033 people in Kentucky. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. The typical home is worth $73,600, having risen by half since 1990. Renters pay $383 a month at the median. 72% of homes are owner-occupied. Households take in $31,240 at the median, 27% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.0
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

38,033
+12%since 1990
from 34,001 in 1990
1990 – 2025
38.0
+6%since 1990
from 35.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
487 sq mi
Population, 19902024
33K36K39K43K46K19902000201020202024Barren County
202445K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.4%(2,432)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.9%(2,614)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.7%(2,566)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.8%(2,587)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.6%(2,113)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.1%(5,001)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.7%(5,964)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.6%(5,171)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6410.2%(3,878)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.9%(3,010)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.1%(1,925)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2%(772)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$31,240
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,546 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$16,816
+70%since 1990
from $9,876 in 1990
US average: $21,522
15.6%
−5.9 ptssince 1990
from 21.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$73,600
+29%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $43,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$383
+13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $257 in 1990
US average: $602
72.3%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 70.8% in 1990
27.7% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic94.3%(32,078)
Black5.5%(1,862)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(91)
Asian0%(15)
2000
White, non-Hispanic93.8%(35,662)
Black4.1%(1,553)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(355)
Asian0.4%(155)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.4%(1,068)
Cuban0.8%(355)
Puerto Rican0.4%(177)
Spaniard0.3%(118)
Guatemalan0.2%(94)
Honduran0.2%(79)
Chilean0.1%(44)
Costa Rican0.1%(43)
Asian origin
Japanese0.3%(133)
Filipino0.3%(117)
Korean0.2%(87)
Chinese0.1%(35)
Vietnamese0.1%(28)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(8)
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)
Czech0%(18)
Haitian0%(12)
Croatian0%(11)
Serbian0%(6)
Section 05

Education

11.1%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 8.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
69.5%
+15.0 ptssince 1990
from 54.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.7%
+1.0 ptssince 1990
from 3.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.1 min
−36%since 1990
from 20.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married18.9%(2,722)
Married67.7%(9,755)
Widowed2.4%(340)
Divorced11%(1,589)
Women 15+
Never married14.5%(2,318)
Married61.9%(9,914)
Widowed13.3%(2,123)
Divorced10.4%(1,665)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

8.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2013
from 14.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
44.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 45.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 12.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
21.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 20.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
31.9%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 31.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 1.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
54.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 56.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
49.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 48.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)20.2%(412)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.1%(411)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.3%(721)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.7%(97)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,044 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Barren County, Kentucky?

Barren County, Kentucky has about 38,033 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Barren County, Kentucky earns about $31,240 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 $73,600, and the typical rent is about $383 a month.

How educated are people in Barren County, Kentucky?

About 11.1% 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 15.6% 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 4,032 residents, a change of about 12 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 →