Ballard County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Ballard County, Kentucky has a population of 7,654, the 110th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $66,164 and the median home value is $145,800. The poverty rate is 15.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Ballard County Quick Facts
How Ballard County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,678 | 7,654 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $64,740 | $66,164 | +2.2% |
| Median home value | $132,900 | $145,800 | +9.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Ballard County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wickliffe | 797 | $34,509 | 38.4% | $68,400 |
| La Center | 694 | $56,776 | 27.2% | $92,300 |
| Barlow | 564 | $27,054 | 36.9% | $68,100 |
| Bandana | 311 | $96,691 | 0.0% | $126,300 |
| Blandville | 107 | $47,500 | 24.3% | $67,500 |
| Lovelaceville | 28 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Ballard County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 7,654. It is the 110th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ballard County is 45.0 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ballard County is $66,164. This is 4% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $145,800. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Ballard County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Ballard County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Ballard County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kentucky and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ballard County, Kentucky?
Ballard County has a population of 7,654, making it the 110th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Ballard County?
The median household income in Ballard County is $66,164 with a poverty rate of 15.0%.
How many cities are in Ballard County, Kentucky?
Ballard County contains 6 Census-designated places.