Barren County, Kentucky: commercial real estate data.
Barren County, Kentucky had an estimated 45,609 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,485, across 488 square miles. County output reached $1.87 bn in 2024, 853 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 18 7(a) approvals worth $12.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Barren County
How many people live in Barren County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202444,938
- Households18,017
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$50,628
- Median age39.8
- Median gross rent$796 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$178,000
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over31,070
- Population under 1810,730
- Share under 1823.9 percent
- Population 65 and over8,152
- Share 65 and over18.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,056
- Civilian labor force19,436
- Unemployment rate4.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.8 percent
- Rank by population among Kentucky counties24th of 120
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1103rd of 3,222
Barren County is the 24th largest of 120 Kentucky counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.9 percent against 18.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Barren County
Is Barren County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202445,609
- Census 2020 base population44,485
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.53 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024477
- Births, 2024605
- Deaths, 2024564
- Natural change, 202441
- Net domestic migration, 2024283
- Net international migration, 2024156
- Total net migration, 2024439
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024995
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1000th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.53 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Barren County
Where are people moving to Barren County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,135
- People arriving, from those returns2,201
- Tax returns filed by households leaving909
- Net household movement226
- Adjusted gross income arriving$59.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$22.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,180
- Average income of a leaving household$40,387
- Largest single originWarren County (213 households)
- Largest single destinationWarren County (204 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County | 213 | 381 | $9.5 m |
| Hart County | 118 | 258 | $3.8 m |
| Metcalfe County | 94 | 179 | $3.3 m |
| Allen County | 42 | 99 | $2.2 m |
| Jefferson County | 37 | 72 | $2.6 m |
| Monroe County | 34 | 73 | $1.1 m |
| Edmonson County | 33 | 68 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $11,793 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Warren County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Barren County
What is the Barren County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.87 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.78 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.1 percent
- GDP change over five years27.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Kentucky areas BEA publishes28th of 120
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1340th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$41,639
Output grew 5.1 percent in the latest year and 27.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Barren County
Employment by industry in Barren County
- Covered employment, annual average15,413
- Establishments reporting1,306
- Average annual pay$51,346
- Average weekly wage$987
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,618
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,684
- Retail trade, employment2,609
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,293
- Manufacturing, employment1,819
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$82,839
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,788
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,901
- Wholesale trade, employment985
- Construction, employment719
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 2,618 | 218 | $63,684 |
| Retail trade | 2,609 | 211 | $33,293 |
| Manufacturing | 1,819 | 64 | $82,839 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,788 | 114 | $20,901 |
| Wholesale trade | 985 | 65 | $67,602 |
| Construction | 719 | 92 | $55,457 |
| Finance and insurance | 564 | 78 | $61,024 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 380 | 120 | $73,308 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 2,618 jobs, 17.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Barren County
How many businesses are in Barren County?
- Establishments, all industries853
- Employment at those establishments12,882
- Annual payroll$560.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Barren County
Building permits in Barren County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024283
- Declared construction value permitted$72.8 m
- Single family units authorized171
- Multifamily units authorized112
- Multifamily share of units39.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$257,173
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.7
Single-family homes are 60.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Barren County
SBA loans in Barren County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded18
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$12.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$692,633
- Median 7(a) approval$162,500
- Largest single approval$4,750,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)129
- Jobs per approval7.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals14
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals5.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countElectrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (3)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (6)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.3 m
- Average 504 approval$253,000
- Median 504 approval$218,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval17.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved68.8
- Most active CDCCommunity Ventures Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$13.7 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Barren County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Barren County
Do SBA loans in Barren County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure11
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Barren County
SBA lending by place in Barren County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Glasgow, approvals15
- Cave City, approvals2
- Summer Shade, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 15 | $10,580,700 |
| Cave City | 2 | $1,866,700 |
| Summer Shade | 1 | $20,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Barren County
How large is Barren County?
- Land area488 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Kentucky counties13th of 120
- Width, east to west23.6 mi
- Height, north to south30.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land92
- Establishments per square mile1.75
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Barren County
Flood risk in Barren County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Barren County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 210334
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Barren County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Barren County (community 210334), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Barren County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 75.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Barren County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Barren County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202444,938
- Households18,017
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$50,628
- Median age39.8
Common questions
Barren County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Barren County, Kentucky?
The Census Bureau estimates 45,609 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 44,938, in 18,017 households, ranking 24th of 120 Kentucky counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Barren County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.53 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,485, to 45,609 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 605 births against 564 deaths, with net migration of 439. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Barren County?
$50,628. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,000, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $796 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Barren County?
853 establishments, employing 12,882 people with an annual payroll of $560.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Barren County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 2,618 jobs, 17.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,413 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,346, or $987 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Barren County?
18 7(a) approvals totaling $12.5 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $162,500, plus 5 504 approvals worth $1.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Barren County?
283 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $72.8 m. Multifamily was 39.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Barren County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Barren County come from?
The largest single origin is Warren County, with 213 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,180 against $40,387 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Barren County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Barren County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Barren County
Cities and places in Barren.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Barren County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | city | 15,197 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Cave City | city | 2,730 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Park City | city | 670 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hiseville | CDP | 99 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 18 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Barren County, the largest being Summer Shade (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby