Population 25,772 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Harlan County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Harlan County
Household size in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.37 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Harlan County are small: just 2.38 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.74 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Harlan County are younger than 41.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Harlan County (13.2%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Harlan County
Renters in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.9% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.4% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Harlan County rent their homes (28.4%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About two-thirds of owners (68.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.5 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 17.4% of the housing in Harlan County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 4.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Harlan County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Kentucky as a whole, where the median home dates to 1982. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only nine have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $447 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $480 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $554 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $705 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$259 | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Harlan County pays $705 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $259 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Harlan County
Bachelor's degrees in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Harlan County: 13.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.4% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.1% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.0% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.7% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.2 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in six adults in Harlan County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 13.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Harlan County
| Period | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Harlan County: 9.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only two of Kentucky's 120 counties have higher unemployment. Unemployment has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Harlan County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County | 2.38 | 41.3 | 13.2% | 28.4% | 17.4% | 1976 | $705 | 13.8% | 81.7% | 9.8% |
| Lee County | 2.43 | 45.9 | 11.7% | 27.0% | 19.6% | 1977 | $769 | 16.0% | 83.0% | 8.1% |
| Norton City | 2.31 | 40.2 | 19.5% | 50.0% | 11.8% | 1973 | $573 | 14.0% | 94.3% | 4.1% |
| Wise County | 2.37 | 42.2 | 12.7% | 25.8% | 15.5% | 1979 | $802 | 15.4% | 80.2% | 8.5% |
| Knox County | 2.54 | 40.2 | 15.6% | 34.7% | 14.2% | 1985 | $703 | 14.1% | 76.8% | 8.0% |
| Whitley County | 2.65 | 35.4 | 15.1% | 33.2% | 14.1% | 1987 | $797 | 20.5% | 84.8% | 6.1% |
| Russell County | 2.38 | 46.8 | 10.1% | 23.7% | 16.5% | 1980 | $738 | 13.2% | 82.3% | 3.6% |
| McCreary County | 2.53 | 40.6 | 11.8% | 25.8% | 15.0% | 1987 | $584 | 10.5% | 78.6% | 5.4% |
| Washington County | 2.41 | 46.6 | 8.3% | 24.2% | 13.3% | 1983 | $885 | 26.4% | 90.6% | 2.9% |
| Wayne County | 2.43 | 43.3 | 10.7% | 30.9% | 16.8% | 1982 | $736 | 14.6% | 81.1% | 5.3% |
| Smyth County | 2.31 | 45.7 | 11.0% | 29.0% | 16.4% | 1973 | $758 | 16.6% | 87.1% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Barry County, MO · Wapello County, IA · Wakulla County, FL · Wabasha County, MN · Ben Hill County, GA · Bee County, TX · Beckham County, OK · Becker County, MN · Barton County, KS · Ware County, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Harlan County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.