Harlan city, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Harlan city, Kentucky Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

★

High PovertyPoverty rate of 32.3% is well above the state average

As of 2026, Harlan city, Kentucky has a total population of 2,304, the 154th largest city in Kentucky, with a median household income of $30,365, which is 51% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 32.3%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 51% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (32.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Unemployment rate of 13.3% is notably above the national average.

Harlan city Quick Facts

Population 2,304

Median Household Income $30,365

Median Home Value $112,500

Poverty Rate 32.3%

Unemployment Rate 13.3%

Median Age 39.5 years

Homeownership Rate 42.6%

Affordability Ratio 3.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.5%

High School Graduation Rate 81.7%

Diversity Index 17/100

Population 2,304 154th of 552

Median Income $30,365 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 32.3% 159% higher national

Median Home Value $112,500 below average

How Harlan city Compares

Median Household Income

Harlan city

$30,365

$62,417

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Harlan city

$112,500

$192,300

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 43.2%

$25K-$50K 20.9%

$50K-$100K 18.5%

$100K+ 17.4%

Employment

13.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8% | National: 5.2%

46.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 42.6%

Renter 57.4%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.5%

18-34

21.1%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

24.8%

75+

5.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 31 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Harlan city Rankings in Kentucky

#154 Population of 552

#461 Median Income of 552

#176 Education of 552

#333 Home Value of 552

Explore Kentucky Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Harlan city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Fulton city	2,345	$36,037	$61,200	18.5%	33.6%
Cumberland city	2,234	$35,309	$61,600	9.6%	57.0%
Manchester city	2,041	$30,291	$109,100	15.9%	40.5%
Hickman city	2,033	N/A	$68,700	13.9%	39.8%
Mount Vernon city	2,259	$38,639	$100,500	11.6%	27.2%

Population Overview

Harlan city is a small community located in Kentucky. The total population is 2,304. It ranks as the 154th most populous out of 552 cities and towns in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Harlan city is 39.5 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Harlan city is $30,365. This is 51% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 61% lower. The poverty rate stands at 32.3%. This is 100% 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 13.3%. This is 176% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $112,500. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 42.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Harlan city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% 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 81.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Harlan city, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

Free data download: Get all Kentucky city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Harlan city, Kentucky?

Harlan city, Kentucky has a population of 2,304 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Harlan city, KY?

The median household income in Harlan city is $30,365, which is 61% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Harlan city, KY?

The poverty rate in Harlan city is 32.3%. This means approximately 743 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Harlan city, Kentucky?

Harlan city's population is 91.1% White, 4.9% Black, 0.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Harlan city, KY?

The median home value in Harlan city is $112,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x.

How educated is Harlan city, Kentucky?

26.5% of adults (25+) in Harlan city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.