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Bracken County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Bracken County, Kentucky has a population of 8,444, the 108th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $66,319 and the median home value is $125,000. The poverty rate is 19.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Bracken County Quick Facts

Population 8,444
Median Household Income $66,319
Median Home Value $125,000
Poverty Rate 19.5%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Median Age 42.0 years
Homeownership Rate 78.5%
Affordability Ratio 1.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 17.8%
High School Graduation 89.2%
Cities/Places 2
Population 8,444 108th of 120
Median Income $66,319 4% higher than state
Poverty Rate 19.5%
Unemployment 4.8%

How Bracken County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population8,4278,444+0.2%
Median household income$59,521$66,319+11.4%
Median home value$116,400$125,000+7.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.9%
$25K-$50K 22.9%
$50K-$100K 27.1%
$100K+ 33.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.6%
$10K-$15K
3.1%
$15K-$20K
4.3%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
3.5%
$30K-$35K
6.7%
$35K-$40K
4.5%
$40K-$45K
4.6%
$45K-$50K
3.7%
$50K-$60K
5.3%
$60K-$75K
9.6%
$75K-$100K
12.2%
$100K-$125K
9.2%
$125K-$150K
7.0%
$150K-$200K
9.8%
$200K+
7.0%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
58.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.5%
Renter 21.5%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $756/mo 13.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

11out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 33 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Bracken County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Augusta1,510$51,25024.1%$110,200
Brooksville883$54,84438.7%$84,800

Population Overview

Bracken County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 8,444. It is the 108th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bracken County is 42.0 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bracken County is $66,319. 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 19.5%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $125,000. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Bracken County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bracken County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 89.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Bracken 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 Bracken County, Kentucky?

Bracken County has a population of 8,444, making it the 108th most populous county in Kentucky.

What is the median income in Bracken County?

The median household income in Bracken County is $66,319 with a poverty rate of 19.5%.

How many cities are in Bracken County, Kentucky?

Bracken County contains 2 Census-designated places.