Bell County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Bell County, Kentucky has a population of 23,509, the 50th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $31,354 and the median home value is $89,000. The poverty rate is 28.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Bell County Quick Facts
How Bell 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 | 23,878 | 23,509 | -1.5% |
| Median household income | $32,403 | $31,354 | -3.2% |
| Median home value | $83,000 | $89,000 | +7.2% |
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 Bell County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesborough | 9,123 | $31,106 | 31.0% | $99,900 |
| Pineville | 2,064 | $24,547 | 34.0% | $98,700 |
| Arjay | 56 | N/A | 64.3% | N/A |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Bell County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 23,509. It is the 50th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bell County is 41.7 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bell County is $31,354. This is 51% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 61% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.8%. This is 79% 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 10.1%. This is 108% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $89,000. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Bell County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Bell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
15.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 79.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Bell 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 Bell County, Kentucky?
Bell County has a population of 23,509, making it the 50th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Bell County?
The median household income in Bell County is $31,354 with a poverty rate of 28.8%.
How many cities are in Bell County, Kentucky?
Bell County contains 3 Census-designated places.