United States › Kentucky › Bracken County COUNTY
Bracken County Kentucky · 8,511 residents (2025 est.) · 203 sq mi
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The short version
Bracken County is home to 8,444 people in Kentucky. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The typical home is worth $125,000, having more than doubled since 2000. 79% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 1%. Renters pay $756 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 8,279 in 2000
8,511 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 43 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 36.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K 8K 8K 8K 9K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bracken County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $66,319
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,823 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,478 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Education & health services 0.8%
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$125,000
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$756
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $337 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.9% in 2000
21.5% rent
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.65 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.2%(8,130)
Hispanic / Latino 0.5%(39)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.5%(7,982)
Hispanic / Latino 1.5%(125)
from 6 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 24 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 Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 69.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 29.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 62.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 85.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 93.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 24.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 26.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.7% 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) 2.8%(13)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.9%(92)
Share of the 462 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Bracken County Head to head
Compare Bracken County to nearby counties BRACKEN COUNTY VS
Robertson County
Income $51,830 −22%
Home value $165,100 +32%
Population 2,325 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRACKEN COUNTY VS
Pendleton County
Income $64,669 −2%
Home value $159,800 +28%
Population 14,800 +74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRACKEN COUNTY VS
Mason County
Income $52,178 −21%
Home value $161,500 +29%
Population 16,936 +99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRACKEN COUNTY VS
Harrison County
Income $66,442 same
Home value $202,100 +62%
Population 19,627 +131%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Bracken County, Kentucky? Bracken County, Kentucky has about 8,444 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Bracken County, Kentucky? The typical household in Bracken County, Kentucky earns about $66,319 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Bracken County, Kentucky expensive? In Bracken County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $125,000, and the typical rent is about $756 a month.
How educated are people in Bracken County, Kentucky? About 17.8% of adults age 25 and over in Bracken County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Bracken County, Kentucky? About 19.5% of people in Bracken County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Bracken County, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Bracken County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 678 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.
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