Benham, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 725, Benham'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

Benham is a small community located in Kentucky, within Harlan County. The total population is 725. It ranks as the 288th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benham is 43.6 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benham is $44,946. This is 29% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 9.3%. This is 91% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $53,000. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Benham is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Benham has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 79.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Benham, 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.