City · Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky
Berea, city, in Madison County, Kentucky. Berea had 16,662 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 15,539 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,786 (±59). GEOID 2105842.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,662
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,539 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,786 ±59
Median household income
$59,495
±$5,110 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$199,900
±$14,677 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$835
±$39 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
Where is Berea and what county is it in?
Berea is a city in Madison County, Kentucky. It covers 16.5 square miles of land, 941 residents per square mile in 2020.
Berea is in the Richmond-Berea, KY micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Berea, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,662 people lived in Berea on July 1, 2025, up 7.3% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 15,539 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,786 (±59).
| Measure | Berea | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,786 ±59 | 95,769 | +312 |
| Households | 5,519 ±255 | 37,051 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.60 ±0.12 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,159 ±297 | 40,456 | no clear change |
Berea's population since 2000
From 9,851 in 2000 to 16,662 in 2025: up 69.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Berea as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Berea?
The median resident of Berea is 33.2 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 13.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.2%. 2.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Berea | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 ±2.0 | 34.7 | +2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 21.8% ±2.6 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.1% ±1.7 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 47.0% ±2.4 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.2% ±2.1 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.6% ±2.7 pts | 87.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±1.0 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±0.9 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±0.8 pts | 2.4% | −2.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.1% ±1.3 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0% ±1.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 17.5% ±2.7 pts | 15.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.2% ±1.2 pts | 5.6% | −4.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.5% ±4.7 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.2% ±3.8 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.0% ±3.3 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.7% ±2.8 pts | 84.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Berea earn?
Half of Berea's 5,519 households earn less than $59,495 a year (±$5,110), against $63,351 in Madison County and $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $54,510 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Berea | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,495 ±$5,110 | $63,351 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,567 ±$5,409 | $83,157 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,877 ±$2,255 | $32,828 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.9% ±3.3 pts | 15.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.9% ±7.8 pts | 17.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.0% ±5.0 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.7% ±2.7 pts | 95.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±3.2 pts | 88.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Berea?
Owners occupy 58.7% of Berea's occupied homes and renters 41.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,900 by its owner (±$14,677). The median renter pays $835 a month including utilities, and 40.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Berea | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $199,900 ±$14,677 | $232,000 | +$28,464 |
| Median gross rent | $835 ±$39 | $889 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.0% ±7.3 pts | 33.9% | +13.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,281 ±$76 | $1,485 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.7% ±4.1 pts | 62.0% | +7.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.3% ±4.1 pts | 38.0% | – |
| Housing units | 6,159 ±297 | 40,456 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3% ±4.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.6% ±4.0 pts | 61.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% ±1.5 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.7% ±1.8 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.6% ±3.0 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.1% ±1.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.5% ±2.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Berea building?
Builders took permits for 163 new housing units in Berea in 2025 (104 in single-family houses), 9.8 per 1,000 residents against 3.2 across Kentucky.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Berea work and get to work?
67.8% of Berea's workers drive alone and 10.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Berea | Madison County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.7% ±3.0 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±1.4 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 67.8% ±4.9 pts | 76.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.2% ±3.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 8.9% ±1.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.9% ±3.1 pts | 9.6% | +5.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.1 min ±2.0 | 25.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Berea?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Berea, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $28,250 (Tract 112.01) to $67,283 (Tract 113.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 113.03Madison County | 3,511 | $67,283 |
| Tract 112.02Madison County | 3,553 | $63,711 |
| Tract 112.01Madison County | 2,152 | $28,250 |
| Tract 113.04Madison County | 1,761 | $61,131 |
| Tract 111.01Madison County | 3,338 | $73,171 |
| Tract 114.01Madison County | 3,005 | $71,875 |
| Tract 113.01Madison County | 2,577 | $48,750 |
| Tract 114.02Madison County | 1,966 | $80,893 |
| Tract 109.01Madison County | 4,921 | $68,500 |
| Tract 111.02Madison County | 2,403 | $87,950 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Berea) · Census block assignment files
How does Berea compare with other places in Kentucky?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Berea is the 2,240th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 28th-most populous of 418 in Kentucky.
Berea ranks 97th of 230 places in Kentucky with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 28th | 418 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 12th | 204 |
| Residents per square mile | 139th | 232 |
| Median household income | 97th | 230 |
| Per capita income | 158th | 232 |
| Median home value | 88th | 225 |
| Median gross rent | 115th | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 117th | 203 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 82nd | 223 |
| Median age | 198th | 232 |
| Owner-occupied share | 116th | 229 |
| Work from home | 79th | 130 |
| Travel time to work | 93rd | 232 |
Berea's figures with every place in Kentucky (CSV)
Every place in Kentucky, sortable · Compare Berea with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Berea?
6 of the 57 figures for Berea on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Berea are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Berea.