County profile · Kentucky
Harlan County, KY market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Harlan County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 24,725
- −7.6% since 2020
- Households
- 10,731
- Median household income
- $41,693
- +57.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $73,700
- Jobs located here
- 5,743
- Highest market score
- 72
- Insurance agencies, #405 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Harlan County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Harlan 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
An estimated 24,725 people live in Harlan County, in 10,731 households. Population estimates show Harlan County declined 7.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Harlan County is $41,693 a year, 48% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 57.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Harlan County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (43).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Harlan County are for insurance agencies (72), sit-down restaurants (53) and restaurants and cafes (51). Harlan County ranks #405 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
For its number of households, Harlan County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (4.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (73% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Harlan County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Harlan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 72 | #405 of 2,272 | 6 | 5.6 | $4.2M | 335 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 53 | #1,018 of 2,405 | 31 | 28.9 | $959K | 145 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #1,114 of 2,405 | 60 | 55.9 | $496K | 134 | 29 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #1,459 of 2,200 | 7 | 6.5 | $982K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 41 | #1,549 of 2,229 | 11 | 10.3 | Index only | 274 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 41 | #1,604 of 2,401 | 35 | 32.6 | $250K | 93 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 39 | #1,620 of 2,358 | 15 | 14.0 | $2M | 82 | 12 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 33 | #1,321 of 1,656 | 6 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 86 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 33 | #1,970 of 2,394 | 55 | 51.3 | $167K | 110 | 12 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 32 | #1,782 of 2,210 | 12 | 11.2 | $1.3M | 148 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 29 | #1,541 of 1,769 | 6 | 5.6 | $1.2M | 137 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 28 | #1,696 of 1,886 | 11 | 10.3 | $836K | 85 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 27 | #1,782 of 2,087 | 10 | 9.3 | $1.6M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 24 | #1,921 of 2,088 | 10 | 9.3 | $456K | 69 | 3 |
| Gyms | 18 | #1,682 of 1,792 | 6 | 5.6 | $759K | 58 | 3 |
| Pizza | 16 | #2,045 of 2,090 | 12 | 11.2 | $2.5M | 49 | 20 |
| Auto repair shops | 16 | #2,314 of 2,378 | 23 | 21.4 | $380K | 85 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 14 | #2,150 of 2,222 | 18 | 16.8 | $1.7M | 54 | 20 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 13 | #2,351 of 2,385 | 35 | 32.6 | $206K | 97 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 12 | #1,433 of 1,461 | 5 | 4.7 | $1.4M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 11 | #2,343 of 2,402 | 26 | 24.2 | $2.1M | 61 | 16 |
| Convenience stores | 10 | #2,190 of 2,261 | 14 | 13.0 | $3.9M | 49 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 9 | #2,313 of 2,339 | 21 | 19.6 | $344K | 80 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 8 | #1,316 of 1,356 | 6 | 5.6 | $1.2M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 7 | #886 of 887 | 5 | 4.7 | Index only | 67 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 7 | #2,041 of 2,070 | 12 | 11.2 | $4.5M | 48 | 8 |
| Funeral homes | 6 | #1,470 of 1,472 | 10 | 9.3 | $145K | 21 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $7.4M | 201 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | Index only | 599 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $2.2M | 87 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $1M | 100 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $4.1M | 244 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $1.5M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $6.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $3.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $29.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $23.2M | Too few | 8 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $12.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $23.2M | Too few | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $9.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $6.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $6.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $4.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 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 | Under 3 |
Household spending in Harlan 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 | $8.7M | $814 | 85 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $29.5M | $2,748 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $29.7M | $2,771 | 68 |
| Groceries | $54.1M | $5,039 | 80 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.2M | $673 | 67 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3M | $281 | 48 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.6M | $425 | 43 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.2M | $856 | 66 |
| Pets | $6.9M | $640 | 70 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $15.7M | $1,460 | 71 |
| Vehicle insurance | $25.2M | $2,350 | 120 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $23.2M | $2,158 | 72 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $12.3M | $1,144 | 81 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $130.6M | $12,172 | 73 |
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 Harlan County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 24,725−7.6% since 2020
- Households
- 10,731
- Median age
- 40.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 466 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 55
- Median household income
- $41,693+57.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $55,003
- Median home value
- $73,700
- Jobs located here
- 5,743
- Daytime population
- 24,360Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Harlan 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 Harlan 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
- Leslie County, KY10,079 people
- Perry County, KY27,499 people
- Bell County, KY23,509 people
- Letcher County, KY20,808 people
- Knott County, KY13,830 people
- Clay County, KY19,921 people
- Knox County, KY29,865 people
- Breathitt County, KY13,276 people
Questions
How fast is Harlan County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Harlan County at 24,725 people in 2025, down 7.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 10,731 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 57.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Harlan County, KY spend?
Households in Harlan County spend about $130.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $54.1M on groceries and $29.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Harlan County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (43).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Harlan County, KY?
Of the business types scored in Harlan County, insurance agencies (72), sit-down restaurants (53) and restaurants and cafes (51) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #405 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Harlan County, KY compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Harlan County is $41,693, 48% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 7.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $73,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (4.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (73% 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. 27 of the 56 business types have a score in Harlan 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 Harlan 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.
All markets in Kentucky · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Harlan 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 Harlan 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.