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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Bell County

Kentucky · 28,691 residents · 358.999 sq mi
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The short version

Bell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $24,724. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $64,500. The poverty rate of 29.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,691
−5%since 2000
from 30,060 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
80 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
41.0
+11%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K25K28K30K32K1990201020202024Bell County
202424K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$24,724
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,057 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,627
+27%since 2000
from $11,526 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
10.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
29.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 31.1% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.490
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information14.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing6.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 7.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 2.4%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.9%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$64,500
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$399
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $309 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
26.2%
−41.3 ptssince 2000
from 67.6% in 2000
34.5% rent
Vacancy rate
17.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
17.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.4%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.6
+19%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(28,740)
Black2.4%(720)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(194)
Asian0.3%(101)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.3%(2,496)
2010
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(27,297)
Black2.2%(633)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(198)
Asian0.3%(77)
Other1.3%(361)
Diversity Score10.8%(3,090)
Diversity Score
11
+30%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
66.0%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 56.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+17%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
84.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
14.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
17.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
28.4%
−30.0 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
8.0%
−39.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Bell County

Dallas County
Pop 35,140
St. Francis County
Pop 21,800
Sumter County
Pop 11,588
Bullock County
Pop 9,780
Places similar to Bell County
Head to head

Compare Bell County to nearby counties

BELL COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527+32%
Home value$118,700+84%
Population29,532+29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELL COUNTY VS
Claiborne County
Income$49,379+100%
Home value$159,900+148%
Population33,229+46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELL COUNTY VS
Whitley County
Income$44,615+80%
Home value$131,800+104%
Population37,297+63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELL COUNTY VS
Harlan County
Income$41,693+69%
Home value$73,700+14%
Population24,725+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bell County, Kentucky?

Bell County, Kentucky has about 28,691 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bell County, Kentucky earns about $24,724 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bell County, Kentucky expensive?

In Bell County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $64,500, and the typical rent is about $399 a month.

How educated are people in Bell County, Kentucky?

About 11.3% of adults age 25 and over in Bell County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bell County, Kentucky?

About 29.4% of people in Bell County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bell County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Bell County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,815 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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9 census tracts
Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9608Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9611Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9604
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 40965ZIP 40977ZIP 40856ZIP 40845ZIP 40902ZIP 40958ZIP 40988ZIP 40940ZIP 40813ZIP 40913ZIP 40939
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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