Barren County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Barren County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 44,670. It is the 24th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barren County is 40.1 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barren County is $49,171. This is 21% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 30% 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 4.8%. The median home value is $166,900. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Barren County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The Black or African American population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 7.8%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.5%.