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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Bell County

Kentucky · 24,097 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 $28,442. Population has fallen 20% since 2000, a loss of 5,963 residents. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $62,800. The poverty rate of 31.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 46% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,097
−20%since 2000
from 30,060 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
67 / sq mi
−20%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.4
+15%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K25K28K30K32K1990201020202024Bell County
202424K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$28,442
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,057 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,416
+42%since 2000
from $11,526 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
13.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
31.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 31.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade14.8%
US avg: 10%
Information14.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing3%
US avg: 0.5%
Other services2%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$62,800
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$559
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $309 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
62.4%
−5.2 ptssince 2000
from 67.6% in 2000
37.6% rent
Afford Score
2.2
+1%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92.6%(22,311)
Black2.3%(552)
Hispanic / Latino1%(244)
Asian0.5%(122)
Other2.2%(537)
Diversity Score14.7%(3,540)
Segregation Score37.1%(8,947)
Diversity Score
15
+77%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
37
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
74.0%
+17.3 ptssince 2000
from 56.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+24%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
10.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
38.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 44.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
25.7%
−32.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.7%
−73.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+14%
Home value$118,700+89%
Population29,532+29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELL COUNTY VS
Claiborne County
Income$49,379+74%
Home value$159,900+155%
Population33,229+46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELL COUNTY VS
Whitley County
Income$44,615+57%
Home value$131,800+110%
Population37,297+63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELL COUNTY VS
Harlan County
Income$41,693+47%
Home value$73,700+17%
Population24,725+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bell County, Kentucky?

Bell County, Kentucky has about 24,097 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bell County, Kentucky earns about $28,442 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 $62,800, and the typical rent is about $559 a month.

How educated are people in Bell County, Kentucky?

About 9.5% 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 31.3% 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 7,409 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

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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