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COUNTY

Harlan County

Kentucky · 24,725 residents (2025 est.) · 465.83 sq mi
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#73Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-7.8%
The short version

Harlan County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,693. Population has fallen 22% since 2000, a loss of 7,430 residents. 13% 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 $73,700. The poverty rate of 27.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 35% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% 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

Total population
25,772
−22%since 2000
from 33,202 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
55 / sq mi
−17%since 2009
from 67 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.9
+8%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:24,725 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
25K28K31K34K38K1990201020202024Harlan County
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.9%(1,526)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(1,541)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.6%(1,959)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(1,556)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(1,232)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412%(3,090)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412%(3,094)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(3,220)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.7%(3,534)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(3,147)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.7%(1,460)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(413)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,693
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $18,665 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,319
+93%since 2000
from $11,585 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.4%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
27.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 32.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.463
−3%since 2010
from 0.476 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing3.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$73,700
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$678
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $306 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 73.5% in 2000
28.4% rent
Vacancy rate
17.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.7%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
−9%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
28
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harlan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(31,566)
Black2.6%(865)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(216)
Asian0.3%(95)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(24,205)
Black1.3%(328)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(135)
Asian0.2%(58)
Other4.1%(1,046)
Diversity Score
15
+8%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
16
−18%since 2020
from 20 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
Mexican0.3%(74)
Puerto Rican0.2%(40)
Cuban0%(7)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(32)
Filipino0.1%(20)
Chinese0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(10)
Ancestry
English13.9%(3,595)
Irish9.4%(2,416)
American8.8%(2,261)
German4.4%(1,139)
Scottish2.6%(667)
Italian1.7%(441)
Welsh1.2%(317)
French1%(255)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(191)
Dutch0.6%(150)
Brazilian0.4%(97)
Romanian0.3%(76)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.7%
+23.0 ptssince 2000
from 58.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+24%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
41.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2011
from 39.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.8%
−20.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2012
from 30.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−75.1 ptssince 2013
from 80.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+26.3 ptssince 2017
from 57.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.1%(2,395)
Married58.4%(5,819)
Widowed3.6%(355)
Divorced13.9%(1,388)
Women 15+
Never married18.1%(1,958)
Married56.4%(6,085)
Widowed12.7%(1,374)
Divorced12.7%(1,372)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Harlan County

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Pop 21,800
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Pop 28,801
Barbour County
Pop 24,607
Johnson County
Pop 26,225
Places similar to Harlan County
Head to head

Compare Harlan County to nearby counties

HARLAN COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$41,827same
Home value$98,900+34%
Population21,642−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN COUNTY VS
Leslie County
Income$35,934−14%
Home value$69,000−6%
Population9,627−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN COUNTY VS
Hancock County
Income$34,960−16%
Home value$134,500+82%
Population7,075−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+1%
Home value$91,800+25%
Population26,555+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harlan County, Kentucky?

Harlan County, Kentucky has about 25,772 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Harlan County, Kentucky earns about $41,693 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harlan County, Kentucky expensive?

In Harlan County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $73,700, and the typical rent is about $678 a month.

How educated are people in Harlan County, Kentucky?

About 13.0% of adults age 25 and over in Harlan County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harlan County, Kentucky?

About 27.4% of people in Harlan County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harlan County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Harlan County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 10,802 residents, a change of about -30 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 9710Census Tract 9709Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9707Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9713Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9708Census Tract 9703
25 ZIP codes
ZIP 40831ZIP 40828ZIP 40823ZIP 40873ZIP 40806ZIP 40810ZIP 40824ZIP 40815ZIP 40819ZIP 40855ZIP 40863ZIP 40854ZIP 40807ZIP 40927ZIP 40870ZIP 40865ZIP 40830ZIP 40818ZIP 40820ZIP 40964ZIP 40829ZIP 40843ZIP 40847ZIP 40849ZIP 40801
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →