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Hart County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Hart County, Kentucky has a population of 19,603, the 61st most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $52,285 and the median home value is $146,000. The poverty rate is 19.3%.

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

Hart County Quick Facts

Population 19,603
Median Household Income $52,285
Median Home Value $146,000
Poverty Rate 19.3%
Unemployment Rate 3.8%
Median Age 40.4 years
Homeownership Rate 72.4%
Affordability Ratio 2.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 12.2%
High School Graduation 81.2%
Cities/Places 4
Population 19,603 61st of 120
Median Income $52,285 18% lower than state
Poverty Rate 19.3%
Unemployment 3.8%

How Hart 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
Population19,47019,603+0.7%
Median household income$49,653$52,285+5.3%
Median home value$124,600$146,000+17.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.2%
$25K-$50K 21.5%
$50K-$100K 31.7%
$100K+ 20.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.5%
$10K-$15K
7.4%
$15K-$20K
6.1%
$20K-$25K
7.2%
$25K-$30K
3.1%
$30K-$35K
5.8%
$35K-$40K
4.9%
$40K-$45K
4.7%
$45K-$50K
3.0%
$50K-$60K
6.4%
$60K-$75K
11.3%
$75K-$100K
14.1%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
4.0%
$150K-$200K
3.3%
$200K+
3.4%

Employment

3.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
53.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.4%
Renter 27.6%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $693/mo 15.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

18out 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 Hart County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Horse Cave2,143$51,11834.8%$113,700
Munfordville1,893$32,62133.3%$119,000
Bonnieville326$46,04224.0%$148,400
Hardyville108$76,7860.0%$161,900

Population Overview

Hart County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 19,603. It is the 61st most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hart County is 40.4 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hart County is $52,285. This is 18% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $146,000. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Hart County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hart County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

12.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% 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 81.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hart 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 Hart County, Kentucky?

Hart County has a population of 19,603, making it the 61st most populous county in Kentucky.

What is the median income in Hart County?

The median household income in Hart County is $52,285 with a poverty rate of 19.3%.

How many cities are in Hart County, Kentucky?

Hart County contains 4 Census-designated places.