Hardin County, KY

County

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2024 Population

111,942

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

37.3

0.267% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

13.1%

11.9% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$67,647

0.0577% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$225,800

9.66% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

48,161

0.92% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Hardin County, KY reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.1% of the residents in Hardin County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Hardin County, KY are Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (3,648 degrees awarded in 2023) and Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown (42 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Hardin County, KY was $225,800, and the homeownership rate was 62.6%.

Most people in Hardin County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Hardin County, KY was 2 cars per household.

Hardin County, KY borders Harrison County, IN, Breckinridge County, KY, Bullitt County, KY, Grayson County, KY, Hart County, KY, Jefferson County, KY, Larue County, KY, Meade County, KY, and Nelson County, KY.

United States Kentucky Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY

Population & Diversity

Hardin County, KY is home to a population of 112k people, from which 98.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 4.33% of Hardin County, KY residents were born outside of the country (4.85k people).

In 2024, there were 6.98 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (83.3k people) in Hardin County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 11.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 5.91k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.1%

2024 Citizenship

98.3%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.1% of Hardin County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Hardin County, KY was 98.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Hardin County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Hardin County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
83.3k ± 272
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
11.9k ± 709
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
5.91k ± 740

6.5%

Hispanic Population

7.27k people

6.5% of the people in Hardin County, KY are hispanic (7.27k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Hardin County, KY as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
34,091 ± 4,516 people
Cuba
20,475 ± 3,505 people
India
12,629 ± 2,755 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 34,091 Kentucky residents, followed by Cuba with 20,475 and India with 12,629.

Foreign-Born Population

4.33%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

4.85k people

3.85%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

4.29k people

As of 2024, 4.33% of Hardin County, KY residents (4.85k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Hardin County, KY was 3.85%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Hardin County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
5,244 ± 591
Gulf War (1990s)
2,910 ± 434
Vietnam
2,198 ± 308

Hardin County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.8 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Hardin County, KY.

Economy

The economy of Hardin County, KY employs 48.2k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Hardin County, KY were Manufacturing (7,388 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (6,597 people), and Retail Trade (6,570 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($250,001), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($78,750), and Utilities ($76,468).

Employment

Occupations

48.2k

2024 Value

± 1,820

0.92%

1 Year growth

± 5.33%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Hardin County, KY grew at a rate of 0.92%, from 47.7k employees to 48.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Hardin County, KY, are Production Occupations (5,337 people), Sales & Related Occupations (4,780 people), and Management Occupations (4,340 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Hardin County, KY.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Kentucky (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

48.2k

2024 Value

± 1,820

0.92%

1 Year growth

± 5.33%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Hardin County, KY grew at a rate of 0.92%, from 47.7k employees to 48.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Hardin County, KY, are Manufacturing (7,388 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (6,597 people), and Retail Trade (6,570 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Hardin County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Hardin County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$50,124

Median earning men ± $2,152

$36,994

Median earning women ± $1,275

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($91,346), Public Administration ($76,723), and Construction ($61,102).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($67,539), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,085), and Construction ($50,556).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

Y-Axis

2.51%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.98M people employed in Kentucky. This represents a 2.51% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Kentucky.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

154
Health Care and Social Assistance
149
Retail Trade
140
Other Services (except Public Administration)

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$375k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$354k
Manufacturing
$192k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 64.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (33.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.808%).

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing the state of Kentucky. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Hardin County, KY. Showing the available data for Kentucky.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (64.5%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (33.9%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.808%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 64.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (33.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.808%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Kentucky for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Kentucky

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

Mitch McConnell

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 1985

Rand Paul

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing Kentucky.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Kentucky over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Hardin County, KY awarded 3,690 degrees. The student population of Hardin County, KY in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 2,513 male students and 3,849 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Hardin County, KY are White (3,014 and 81.7%), Black or African American (217 and 5.88%), Hispanic or Latino (185 and 5.01%), and Two or More Races (185 and 5.01%).

The largest universities in Hardin County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (3,648 and 98.9%) and Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown (42 and 1.14%).

The most popular majors in Hardin County, KY are Liberal Arts & Sciences (554 and 15%), Electrician (537 and 14.6%), and General Computer & Information Sciences (413 and 11.2%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 6,362 students enrolled in Hardin County, KY, 39.5% men and 60.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 4,975 records, of which 60.3% were women and 39.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Electrician
309 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
262 degrees awarded
General Computer & Information Sciences
222 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years recipients in Hardin County, KY was Electrician with 309 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years from schools in Hardin County, KY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
3,648 degrees awarded
Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown
42 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Elizabethtown Community and Technical College with 3,648 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 2,176 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Hardin County, KY, which is 1.44 times more than the 1,514 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,014 degrees mean that there were 13.9 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 217 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($4,464) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($192) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,152) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Hardin County, KY was $225,800 in 2024, which is 0.679 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $205,900 to $225,800, a 9.66% increase. The homeownership rate in Hardin County, KY is 62.6%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Hardin County, KY have an average commute time of 22.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Hardin County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Hardin County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.549%.

Housing

Property

$225,800

Median Property Value 2024

±$7,964

$27,921

Median Property Taxes

±$1,290

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Hardin County, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Hardin County, KY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

62.6%

Homeownership

2024

67.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 62.6% of the housing units in Hardin County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 62.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Hardin County, KY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$67,647

Median Household Income

± $2,772

44.6k

Number of Households

± 1,709

In 2024, the median household income of the 44.6k households in Hardin County, KY grew to $67,647 from the previous year's value of $67,608.

The following chart displays the households in Hardin County, KY distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Hardin County, KY is from Kentucky.

0.449

2023 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.452

2022 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2023, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.449 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.729% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Kentucky in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Kentucky across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (76.7%)
Carpooled (9.42%)
Worked At Home (9.19%)

In 2024, 76.7% of workers in Hardin County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.42%) and those who worked at home (9.19%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Hardin County, KY have a shorter commute time (22.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.25% of the workforce in Hardin County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Hardin County, KY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Hardin County, KY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Hardin County, KY have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Hardin County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.549%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

13.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Hardin County, KY (14.2k out of 109k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Hardin County, KY is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 17.6% of the children was living in poverty in Hardin County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.7%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 158 in Hardin County, KY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 82.9 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

94.2% of the population of Hardin County, KY has health coverage, with 39.5% on employee plans, 18.1% on Medicaid, 9.69% on Medicare, 19.4% on non-group plans, and 7.46% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Hardin County, KY see 1,666 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,666 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1065 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 219 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,666 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Hardin County, KY

Primary care physicians in Hardin County, KY see an average of 1,666 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,666 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Hardin County, KY in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.8% under 18 years, 19.3% between 18 and 34 years, 38.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.78%

Uninsured

39.5%

Employer Coverage

18.1%

Medicaid

9.69%

Medicare

19.4%

Non-Group

7.46%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Hardin County, KY grew by 5.02% from 5.51% to 5.78%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Hardin County, KY changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 55.3 in Hardin County, KY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Hardin County, KY.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.9% in Hardin County, KY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Hardin County, KY.