Hart County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hart County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 19,470. It is the 62nd most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hart County is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hart County is $49,653. This is 20% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.2%. This is 31% 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 4.5%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $124,600. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Hart County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hart County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 4.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

10.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 60% 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 78.9%.