City · Kentucky
Harlan, Kentucky
Harlan, city, in Harlan County, Kentucky. Harlan had 1,822 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 9.1% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 2,004; the 2020 Census counted 1,776 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,160 (±369). GEOID 2134732.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,822
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,776 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,160 ±369
Median household income
$32,408
±$4,547 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$89,200
±$23,021 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$543
±$55 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
Where is Harlan and what county is it in?
Harlan is a city in Harlan County, Kentucky. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 1,306 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Harlan, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,822 people lived in Harlan on July 1, 2025, down 9.1% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for Harlan, 2,004, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 1,776: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,160 (±369).
| Measure | Harlan | Harlan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,160 ±369 | 25,772 | +713 |
| Households | 1,047 ±170 | 10,731 | +311 |
| Average household size | 2.06 ±0.21 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,178 ±163 | 13,036 | +306 |
Harlan's population since 2000
From 2,081 in 2000 to 1,822 in 2025: down 12.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Harlan 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 Harlan?
The median resident of Harlan is 40.8 years old; 22.6% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 2.7%.
| Measure | Harlan | Harlan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 ±3.3 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.6% ±6.0 pts | 23.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.5% ±5.8 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 42.9% ±4.2 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.9% ±3.8 pts | 93.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±2.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±1.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±2.3 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.2% ±1.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.1% ±2.3 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 23.1% ±6.2 pts | 27.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.3% ±3.9 pts | 4.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.8% ±7.4 pts | 81.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.2% ±7.0 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.0% ±5.2 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1% ±4.1 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.6% ±2.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Harlan earn?
Half of Harlan's 1,047 households earn less than $32,408 a year (±$4,547), against $41,693 in Harlan County and $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $30,068 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 33.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Harlan | Harlan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,408 ±$4,547 | $41,693 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $47,456 ±$8,037 | $55,003 | – |
| Per capita income | $22,316 ±$3,782 | $22,319 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 33.1% ±9.6 pts | 27.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 51.0% ±20.9 pts | 35.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 35.4% ±9.8 pts | 26.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.1% ±5.1 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.9% ±6.5 pts | 84.2% | – |
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 Harlan?
Owners occupy 41.2% of Harlan's occupied homes and renters 58.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $89,200 by its owner (±$23,021). The median renter pays $543 a month including utilities, and 33.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Harlan | Harlan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $89,200 ±$23,021 | $73,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $543 ±$55 | $678 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.6% ±12.5 pts | 41.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,095 ±$192 | $979 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 41.2% ±7.9 pts | 71.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 58.8% ±7.9 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Housing units | 1,178 ±163 | 13,036 | +306 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.7% ±4.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.2% ±8.4 pts | 67.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.8 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.5% ±4.9 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.3% ±6.7 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.9% ±7.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
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 do people in Harlan work and get to work?
76.2% of Harlan's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.7 minutes.
| Measure | Harlan | Harlan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 44.4% ±9.0 pts | 41.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 12.0% ±8.5 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.2% ±9.0 pts | 76.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.2% ±8.6 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 3.8% ±2.9 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.7% ±3.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.7 min ±6.3 | 23.8 min | +9.9 min |
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 Harlan?
1 census tract lies mostly in Harlan, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9709Harlan County | 3,636 | $35,425 |
| Tract 9708Harlan County | 1,090 | $45,417 |
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 Harlan) · Census block assignment files
How does Harlan compare with other places in Kentucky?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Harlan is the 8,010th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 151st-most populous of 418 in Kentucky.
Harlan ranks 213th 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 | 151st | 418 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 201st | 204 |
| Residents per square mile | 89th | 232 |
| Median household income | 213th | 230 |
| Per capita income | 199th | 232 |
| Median home value | 208th | 225 |
| Median gross rent | 202nd | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 23rd | 203 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 88th | 223 |
| Median age | 77th | 232 |
| Owner-occupied share | 211th | 229 |
| Travel time to work | 118th | 232 |
Harlan's figures with every place in Kentucky (CSV)
Every place in Kentucky, sortable · Compare Harlan 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 Harlan?
19 of the 57 figures for Harlan 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 Harlan 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 Harlan.