Barren County, KY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Barren County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,797 | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 89.6 | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.45% | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 17,972 | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Barren County grew by 9.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 44,670 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Barren County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Barren County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,016 | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.40% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Barren County is about 22% lower than in Kentucky.
Housing
| Metric | Barren County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $102,203 | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $783 | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Barren County is about 10.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $783 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Barren County spend about 36 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 150 hours, about 6.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Barren County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.9 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 35.9 | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 150 | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,636 | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 7,248 | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 440 | 832 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kentucky:
Calloway County (13.4 min), McCracken County (14.0 min), Clinton County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Owen County (37.1 min), Menifee County (36.6 min), Bracken County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Barren County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Kentucky.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Barren County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Barren County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kentucky:
Fayette County (0.4), Oldham County (0.4), Campbell County (0.3).
Lowest:
Leslie County (0.1), Lee County (0.1), Elliott County (0.1).
Health
Barren County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Barren County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 24.2% | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 26.8% | 26.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kentucky:
Oldham County (0.8), Boone County (0.8), Scott County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.7), Bell County (0.7), McCreary County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Barren County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Barren County, Kentucky?
The population of Barren County, Kentucky is 44,797, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Barren County, Kentucky?
The population density of Barren County, Kentucky is 89.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Barren County, Kentucky?
The median household income in Barren County, Kentucky is $49,016, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Barren County, Kentucky?
The median home price in Barren County, Kentucky is $102,203, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Barren County, Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Barren County, Kentucky is 4.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.