Harlan, KY

Census Place

Add Comparison

2023 Population

2,304

20.8% 1-year growth

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

39.5

3.66% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

32.2%

22.2% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$30,365

21.8% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$112,500

10% 1-year decline

2023 Employed Population

729

14.3% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Harlan, KY had a population of 2.3k people with a median age of 39.5 and a median household income of $30,365. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Harlan, KY grew from 1,908 to 2,304, a 20.8% increase and its median household income grew from $24,936 to $30,365, a 21.8% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Harlan, KY are White (Non-Hispanic) (91.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (4.9%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.39%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.35%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (0.217%).

None of the households in Harlan, 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.

100% of the residents in Harlan, KY are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in Harlan, KY was $112,500, and the homeownership rate was 42.6%.

Most people in Harlan, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Harlan, KY was 1 car per household.

United States Kentucky Harlan County, KY Cumberland Valley Area Development District (South) PUMA, KY

Population & Diversity

Harlan, KY is home to a population of 2.3k people, from which 100% are citizens. As of 2023, 0.521% of Harlan, KY residents were born outside of the country (12 people).

In 2023, there were 18.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (2.1k people) in Harlan, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 113 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 55 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

100%

2023 Citizenship

100%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 100% of Harlan, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Harlan, KY was 100%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been maintaining.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Harlan, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
2.1k ± 297
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
113 ± 83
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
55 ± 43.8

0.26%

Hispanic Population

6 people

0.26% of the people in Harlan, KY are hispanic (6 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Harlan, KY as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
28,651 ± 4,142 people
Cuba
14,970 ± 2,999 people
India
12,312 ± 2,720 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 28,651 Kentucky residents, followed by Cuba with 14,970 and India with 12,312.

Foreign-Born Population

0.521%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

12 people

0.157%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

3 people

As of 2023, 0.521% of Harlan, KY residents (12 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Harlan, KY was 0.157%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
29 ± 31
Gulf War (2001-)
17 ± 22
Korea
4 ± 14

Harlan, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.71 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Harlan, KY employs 729 people. The largest industries in Harlan, KY are Health Care & Social Assistance (148 people), Educational Services (119 people), and Retail Trade (89 people), and the highest paying industries are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($87,865), Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services ($68,750), and Educational Services ($55,250).

Males in Kentucky have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $52,220. The income inequality in Kentucky (measured using the Gini index) is 0.452, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

729

2023 Value

± 150

14.3%

1 Year growth

± 26.8%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Harlan, KY grew at a rate of 14.3%, from 638 employees to 729 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Harlan, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (124 people), Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (95 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (74 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Harlan, KY.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

729

2023 Value

± 150

14.3%

1 Year growth

± 26.8%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Harlan, KY grew at a rate of 14.3%, from 638 employees to 729 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Harlan, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (148 people), Educational Services (119 people), and Retail Trade (89 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Harlan, KY, though some of these residents may live in Harlan, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$35,833

Median earning men ± $9,466

$33,537

Median earning women ± $5,337

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($62,500), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($50,179), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($36,827).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($43,793), Public Administration ($33,795), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation, & Accommodations & Food Services ($24,479).

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.

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 Harlan, 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.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Kentucky

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Kentucky have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

Completions

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.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2022, 0.821% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.756% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.17M), Some college (766k), and Secondary Education (551k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Harlan, KY was $112,500 in 2023, which is 0.371 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $125,000 to $112,500, a 10% decrease. The homeownership rate in Harlan, KY is 42.6%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Harlan, KY have an average commute time of 22.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Harlan, KY is lower than the national average, with an average of 1 car per household.

Housing

Property

$112,500

Median Property Value 2023

±$39,387

$437

Median Property Taxes

±$102

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 Harlan, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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

Rent vs Own

42.6%

Homeownership

2023

69.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 42.6% of the housing units in Harlan, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 35.5%.

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

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9708
Census Tract 9709

The following map shows all of the places in Harlan, KY colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

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

$30,365

Median Household Income

± $7,553

1.03k

Number of Households

± 181

In 2023, the median household income of the 1.03k households in Harlan, KY grew to $30,365 from the previous year's value of $24,936.

The following chart displays the households in Harlan, 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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

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

0.452

2022 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.453

2021 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2022, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.452 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.286% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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 2023

Drove Alone (74.5%)
Carpooled (16%)
Walked (4.77%)

In 2023, 74.5% of workers in Harlan, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (16%) and those who walked to work (4.77%).

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

22.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Harlan, KY have a shorter commute time (22.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.77% of the workforce in Harlan, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

1 car

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Harlan, KY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Harlan, KY have 1 car.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

32.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Harlan, KY (743 out of 2.3k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females < 5, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Harlan, 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.

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.

Health

94.1% of the population of Harlan, KY has health coverage, with 24% on employee plans, 48.2% on Medicaid, 9.29% on Medicare, 10.4% on non-group plans, and 2.17% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Harlan County, KY see 2841 patients per year on average, which represents a 12.6% decrease from the previous year (3251 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2907 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 2379 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Harlan County, KY.

2,841 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Harlan County, KY

Primary care physicians in Harlan County, KY see an average of 2,841 patients per year. This represents a 12.6% decrease from the previous year (3,251 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.5% under 18 years, 21.1% between 18 and 34 years, 35.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 42.4% were men and 57.6% were women.

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

Uninsured People

5.9%

Uninsured

24%

Employer Coverage

48.2%

Medicaid

9.29%

Medicare

10.4%

Non-Group

2.17%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Harlan, KY declined by 1.21% from 5.97% to 5.9%.

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

Keep Exploring