1st Advantage MortgageThe median Barren County household earns $50,628, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kentucky license first.
On this page
- Barren County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Barren County
- What Barren County households earn
- The Barren County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Barren County
- How Barren County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Barren County budget can carry
- Reading the Barren County data as a borrower
- More Barren County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Four steps for Barren County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Barren County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Barren County's population at 44,938; only 23 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 487 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 92 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Barren County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 4 Census places inside Barren County, Glasgow leads by population with about 15,197; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Barren County
A typical Barren County rental runs $796 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Kentucky. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $178,000, a typical Barren County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 65% of homes. Median construction year: 1985.
| Barren County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $796/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $178,000 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.9% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
What Barren County households earn
The median household income in Barren County is $50,628; statewide it is $63,726, so Barren County runs 21% below Kentucky as a whole. That places it 83rd among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Band | Barren County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.7% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.0% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -2.9 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. 19.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.479 here. A household earning below the $50,628 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Barren County job picture
Manufacturing employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 14%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Barren County. About 77% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 8.9% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Sector | Barren County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.5% | +7.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -2.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Barren County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Barren County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 18,696 people, so roughly 58% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $27,589 in Cave City to $55,769 in Park City. Rent is cheapest in Park City ($527) and steepest in Glasgow ($849). No Barren County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | city | 15,197 | $43,074 | $849 | 3 mi |
| Cave City | city | 2,730 | $27,589 | $704 | 12 mi |
| Park City | city | 670 | $55,769 | $527 | 11 mi |
| Hiseville | CDP | 99 | $10,911 | $818 | 11 mi |
How Barren County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Metcalfe County at 17 miles out to Warren County at 27. Warren County leads the group on income ($65,794), Monroe County trails ($51,280), and Barren County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barren County | - | $50,628 | $796/mo | 65% |
| Metcalfe County, KY | 17 mi | $51,473 | $582/mo | 78% |
| Allen County, KY | 21 mi | $61,403 | $844/mo | 74% |
| Monroe County, KY | 21 mi | $51,280 | $657/mo | 71% |
| Hart County, KY | 24 mi | $52,285 | $693/mo | 72% |
| Edmonson County, KY | 24 mi | $54,937 | $778/mo | 80% |
| Warren County, KY | 27 mi | $65,794 | $1,002/mo | 56% |
What a median Barren County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Barren County's medians:
- $50,628 a year is $4,219 of gross monthly income
- 19% goes to median rent ($796)
- $723: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,018 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $796, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Barren County data as a borrower
Where the Barren County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
More Barren County figures
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Barren County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.9% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Barren County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Barren County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
Four steps for Barren County borrowers
Steps that save money for Barren County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Barren County earn?
The median is $50,628; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Barren County rent compare with Kentucky?
$796 locally versus $967 for the state, 18% below.
Which towns does the Barren County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Glasgow, Cave City, Park City, Hiseville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Barren County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Barren County check a lender's license?
With the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.