Hardin, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 446, Hardin'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

Hardin is a small community located in Kentucky, within Marshall County. The total population is 446. It ranks as the 364th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hardin is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. With 28.5% of the population under 18, Hardin has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 11.4% 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 Hardin is $30,250. This is 53% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 63% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 44.7%. This is 178% 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 6.1%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $96,500. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hardin has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

7.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 73% 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 74.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hardin, 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.