County profile · Kentucky
Barren County, KY market data
How Barren County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 45,641
- +2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 18,017
- Median household income
- $50,628
- +22.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $178,000
- Jobs located here
- 15,309
- Highest market score
- 72
- Landscaping and lawn care, #200 of 1,493 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Barren County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Barren County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Barren County has an estimated 45,641 people and 18,017 households. Population estimates show Barren County grew 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Barren County is $50,628, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 22.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Barren County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (53).
Of the business types scored in Barren County, landscaping and lawn care companies (72); insurance agencies (68); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For landscaping and lawn care companies, that ranks #200 of 1,493 scored counties.
Barren County is part of the Glasgow area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (79% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for dentists and orthodontists (53% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Barren County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Barren County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and lawn care | 72 | #200 of 1,493 | 6 | 3.3 | $3.8M | 130 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 68 | #523 of 2,272 | 23 | 12.8 | $2M | 158 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 64 | #376 of 1,771 | 14 | 7.8 | $1.6M | 97 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 59 | #606 of 2,176 | 29 | 16.1 | Index only | 151 | 4 |
| Real estate | 59 | #628 of 2,229 | 34 | 18.9 | Index only | 162 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 55 | #744 of 1,886 | 11 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 160 | 12 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 54 | #777 of 1,889 | 11 | 6.1 | $5.1M | 123 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 54 | #843 of 2,057 | 18 | 10.0 | $2.5M | 101 | 24 |
| Gyms | 50 | #903 of 1,792 | 7 | 3.9 | $1.3M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 49 | #862 of 1,611 | 9 | 5.0 | $654K | 65 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 49 | #1,043 of 2,063 | 14 | 7.8 | $4M | 108 | 8 |
| Car washes and detailing | 48 | #776 of 1,451 | 7 | 3.9 | $2.3M | 91 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 48 | #1,282 of 2,358 | 33 | 18.3 | $1.6M | 67 | 21 |
| Spas and skin care | 47 | #985 of 1,769 | 11 | 6.1 | $1.2M | 141 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,333 of 2,339 | 34 | 18.9 | $398K | 93 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #1,485 of 2,385 | 66 | 36.6 | $205K | 96 | 7 |
| Funeral homes | 43 | #900 of 1,472 | 7 | 3.9 | $364K | 54 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 43 | #1,365 of 2,261 | 17 | 9.4 | $5.7M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 42 | #1,532 of 2,405 | 82 | 45.5 | $683K | 103 | 30 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 40 | #1,211 of 1,707 | 13 | 7.2 | $3.4M | 71 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 40 | #1,604 of 2,402 | 45 | 25.0 | $2.2M | 64 | 11 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 39 | #991 of 1,461 | 8 | 4.4 | $1.6M | 64 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 39 | #1,521 of 2,088 | 18 | 10.0 | $525K | 79 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 39 | #1,565 of 2,200 | 22 | 12.2 | $596K | 68 | 10 |
| Nail salons | 38 | #984 of 1,328 | 8 | 4.4 | $1.7M | 101 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 38 | #1,213 of 1,656 | 14 | 7.8 | $1.2M | 69 | 18 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 38 | #1,762 of 2,394 | 106 | 58.8 | $163K | 107 | 45 |
| Chiropractors | 37 | #1,088 of 1,490 | 8 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 90 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 36 | #1,781 of 2,405 | 163 | 90.5 | $344K | 93 | 77 |
| Auto repair shops | 36 | #1,824 of 2,378 | 49 | 27.2 | $326K | 73 | 18 |
| Pizza | 33 | #1,694 of 2,090 | 16 | 8.9 | $3.5M | 69 | 38 |
| Physical therapy | 32 | #1,168 of 1,422 | 9 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 32 | #1,960 of 2,401 | 78 | 43.3 | $205K | 76 | 30 |
| Tire shops | 31 | #1,234 of 1,530 | 12 | 6.7 | $1.3M | 53 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | 30 | #1,211 of 1,485 | 9 | 5.0 | $1.5M | 54 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 28 | #1,902 of 2,210 | 47 | 26.1 | $613K | 70 | 15 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 27 | #1,121 of 1,302 | 8 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 69 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 27 | #1,736 of 2,070 | 22 | 12.2 | $4.4M | 47 | 9 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 25 | #1,203 of 1,334 | 7 | 3.9 | $1.3M | 67 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 24 | #1,871 of 2,087 | 41 | 22.8 | $702K | 55 | 15 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 23 | #2,008 of 2,222 | 38 | 21.1 | $1.5M | 48 | 38 |
| Barbershops | 21 | #1,215 of 1,356 | 13 | 7.2 | $1M | 55 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $5.7M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | Index only | 153 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $5.7M | 56 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $11M | 130 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $2.4M | 58 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $9.6M | 77 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $4.4M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $8M | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $28.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $44.1M | Too few | 10 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $16M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
Household spending in Barren County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $16M | $887 | 93 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $53.1M | $2,946 | 113 |
| Food away from home | $56M | $3,109 | 76 |
| Groceries | $97M | $5,384 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $13.5M | $752 | 75 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.9M | $326 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.4M | $524 | 53 |
| Medical and dental services | $17.3M | $959 | 74 |
| Pets | $13.1M | $727 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $28.8M | $1,598 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $45.6M | $2,533 | 129 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $44.1M | $2,450 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $22.8M | $1,264 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $238.6M | $13,241 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Barren County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 45,641+2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 18,017
- Median age
- 40.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 65%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 487 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 92
- Median household income
- $50,628+22.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $73,460
- Median home value
- $178,000
- Jobs located here
- 15,309
- Daytime population
- 41,898Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Barren County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Barren County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Kentucky 8
- Metcalfe County, KY10,425 people
- Hart County, KY19,603 people
- Edmonson County, KY12,355 people
- Monroe County, KY11,269 people
- Allen County, KY21,293 people
- Warren County, KY140,918 people
- Green County, KY11,369 people
- Cumberland County, KY5,948 people
Questions
How fast is Barren County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Barren County at 45,641 people in 2025, up 2.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,017 households. Median household income rose 22.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Barren County, KY spend?
Households in Barren County spend about $238.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $97M on groceries and $56M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Barren County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (53).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Barren County, KY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Barren County are for landscaping and lawn care companies (72); insurance agencies (68); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (64). Barren County ranks #200 of 1,493 scored counties for landscaping and lawn care companies.
How does Barren County, KY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Barren County is $50,628 a year, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $178,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Barren County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (79% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for dentists and orthodontists (53% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 42 of the 56 business types have a score in Barren County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Barren County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Barren County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Barren County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.