City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Barlow, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Barlow - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

508
Residents
$30,069
Median income
$80,700
Median home
$1,072
Median rent (state)

Barlow - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Barlow places in the 3rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
26th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Barlow, KY

508 people live in Barlow, Kentucky - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $30,069 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 32.0%. Barlow's housing stock carries a median value of $80,700, and the median resident age is 31.5 years. 10.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 4 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kentucky scores 90.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,072 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kentucky's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 39.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

508 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$30,069 /yr

Poverty 32.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Barlow compare to other US cities?

Barlow measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 26% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Barlow against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Barlow's strongest outlier among Kentucky cities

Among the 519 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Barlow ranks #53 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Barlow only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#450 of 485
7th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#226 of 520
56th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#433 of 484
11th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#53 of 519
90th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#389 of 520
25th percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Barlow's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$80,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Barlow $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Barlow, KY Barlow, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Barlow, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Barlow, KY median $30,069/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Barlow, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Barlow, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 32.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
508
Median Income
$30,069
Median Home Value
$80,700
Median Age
31.5
Poverty Rate
32.0%
Labor force participation
52.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.0%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
630 residents635 residents640 residents645 residents650 residents 202020212022202320242025 646 residents 635 residents ▼ -1.7%
Barlow's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.1%
Carpool
5.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
1.5%
Other
1.5%

Based on 202 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Barlow sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,072/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
39.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Yelvington
511 people
Butler
513 people
Cawood
499 people
Cecilia
499 people
Loyall
496 people
Van Lear
520 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Barlow's 508 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dexter, KS
508 people
Thompsonville, MI
508 people
Cedar Valley, OK
508 people
Auburn, PA
508 people
Falmouth, PA
508 people
Buffalo Gap, TX
508 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Barlow's $30,069 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bastrop, LA
$30,069 median income
Grandin, MO
$30,096 median income
Pinnacle, NC
$30,109 median income
Argyle, GA
$30,114 median income
Rocky Top, TN
$30,119 median income
Peñuelas zona urbana, PR
$30,019 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Barlow, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Barlow, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.3% 6.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 92.3% Black or African American 6.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Barlow compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Barlow (this city) 508 $30,069
Yelvington 511 $50,038
Butler 513 $43,309
Cawood 499 $42,604
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Barlow, KY?

What is the population of Barlow, KY? +

The population of Barlow, KY stands at 508 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Barlow, KY? +

In Barlow, the typical household earns $30,069 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Barlow? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Barlow; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Barlow, KY? +

The median home value in Barlow is $80,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.