1st Advantage MortgageThe median Hart County household earns $52,285, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Hart County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Kentucky license.
On this page
- Population and place: Hart County
- The Hart County job picture
- What stands out in Hart County
- What Hart County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Hart County
- The communities that make up Hart County
- Hart County next to its neighbors
- Hart County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Hart County
- Debt-to-income, Hart County edition
- Kentucky rules that apply in Hart County
- Checklist for Hart County applicants
- More guides for Hart County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Hart County
With an estimated 19,603 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hart County ranks 61st of 120 in Kentucky for population. Its 413 square miles average 48 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro status: none; Hart County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Horse Cave is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 2,143 people (11% of the county total).
The Hart County job picture
Top Hart County industry by residents employed: manufacturing, 22%; second, education and health care, 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 14% statewide. Unemployment in Hart County, ACS five-year: 3.8%; Kentucky: 4.9%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 18%; under 15 minutes: 29%. 645 Hart County households, 8.7%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Hart County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.3% | +8.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.7% | -5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.7% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What stands out in Hart County
Ranked against the other 119 county-level areas in Kentucky, these are the Hart County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Kentucky counties match Hart County on the uninsured rate: 11.7% here, 6.0% for the state, ranking 6th highest of 120. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Hart County ranks 14th lowest of 120 Kentucky counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 12%, against 28% statewide. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 36% in Hart County. Only 16 of 120 Kentucky counties are lower. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
What Hart County households earn
At $52,285, the typical Hart County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Hart County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.2% | -5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -3.8 pts |
On the low end, 35% of Hart County households report under $35,000; at the top, 21% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 19.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 16.1%. A household earning below the $52,285 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Hart County
$693 a month is the median gross rent in Hart County, 28% below the state. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. Hart County homes are worth $146,000 at the median, a 2.8-to-1 ratio to income. 72% of Hart County households own their home and 28% rent. Median construction year: 1983.
| Hart County | Kentucky | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $693/mo | $967/mo | 28% lower |
| Median home value | $146,000 | $205,600 | 29% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | +4.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | -9.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 23% | +5.9 pts |
With 72% of Hart County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
The communities that make up Hart County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Hart County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 4,470 people, so roughly 77% of residents live outside any named place. Horse Cave and every other Hart County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Cave | city | 2,143 | $51,118 | $651 | 10 mi |
| Munfordville | city | 1,893 | $32,621 | $661 | 2 mi |
| Bonnieville | city | 326 | $46,042 | $750 | 5 mi |
| Hardyville | CDP | 108 | $76,786 | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Hart County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hart County's, from 19 to 27 miles away. Hardin County leads the group on income ($67,647), Green County trails ($46,798), and Hart County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart County | - | $52,285 | $693/mo | 72% |
| Green County, KY | 19 mi | $46,798 | $610/mo | 78% |
| Larue County, KY | 19 mi | $67,067 | $860/mo | 79% |
| Edmonson County, KY | 19 mi | $54,937 | $778/mo | 80% |
| Barren County, KY | 24 mi | $50,628 | $796/mo | 65% |
| Metcalfe County, KY | 26 mi | $51,473 | $582/mo | 78% |
| Hardin County, KY | 27 mi | $67,647 | $971/mo | 63% |
Hart County households compared
In Hart County, 12% of adults have at least a four-year degree (28% in Kentucky). About 12% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Hart County | Difference from Kentucky | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | +1.3 yrs | -1.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.2% | -15.3 pts | -9.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 18.8% | +7.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | +5.7 pts | +3.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | +2.0 pts | +3.3 pts |
| Work from home | 4.8% | -5.4 pts | -3.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | +3.2 pts | +6.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | -1.1 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Hart County
Where the Hart County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 12% uninsured. In Hart County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Hart County loan.
Debt-to-income, Hart County edition
Hart County's $52,285 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $4,357 a month: gross income for a household at the Hart County median
- Rent at the median, $693, takes 16% of that
- $1,050: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Kentucky rules that apply in Hart County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hart County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Hart County applicants
Steps that save money for Hart County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Hart County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Hart County
Next step up from Hart County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Hart County a high-income county?
Its $52,285 median ranks 73rd of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Hart County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $693 against $967 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
How many towns are in Hart County?
The Census Bureau counts 4 places mainly in the county, led by Horse Cave, Munfordville, Bonnieville, Hardyville.
Will a Hart County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kentucky as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects Hart County borrowers?
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.