Bardwell, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 737, Bardwell's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bardwell is a small community located in Kentucky, within Carlisle County. The total population is 737. It ranks as the 284th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bardwell is 38.4 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bardwell is $47,784. This is 25% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.2%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $74,200. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Bardwell is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 57.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bardwell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.9%. The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

9.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% 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 78.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bardwell, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.