County · Kentucky
Ballard County, Kentucky
Ballard County, Kentucky. Ballard County had 7,594 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.8% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 7 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 21007.
Ballard County is one of the 5 counties of the Paducah, KY-IL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,594
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,728 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,654
Median household income
$66,164
±$9,335 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$145,800
±$17,180 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$817
±$147 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Ballard County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 7,728 residents in Ballard County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,594 for July 1, 2025, down 1.8% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 7,654 over 247 square miles of land.
| Measure | Ballard County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,654 | 4,534,824 | −378 |
| Households | 3,209±123 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.35±0.09 | 2.43 | −0.23 |
| Housing units | 3,702±27 | 2,023,116 | −215 |
Ballard County's population since 2000
From 8,286 in 2000 to 7,594 in 2025: down 8.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Ballard County?
Ballard County holds 7 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is La Center with 858 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ballard County?
The median resident of Ballard County is 45.0 years old; 19.9% are under 18 and 21.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.7%.
| Measure | Ballard County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0±0.8 | 39.1 | +1.4 |
| Under 18 years | 19.9%±0.1 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.8%±0.6 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.6% | 5.0% | +0.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.0%±0.8 pts | 81.5% | −1.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.6%±1.0 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7%±1.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2%±0.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.2%±2.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8%±1.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 17.4%±2.7 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.8%±1.7 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.9%±1.4 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.4%±3.0 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.0%±1.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9%±2.1 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 Ballard County earn?
Half of Ballard County's 3,209 households earn less than $66,164 a year (±$9,335), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $55,440 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ballard County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,164±$9,335 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $85,057±$7,083 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,589±$2,826 | $35,821 | +$4,555 |
| People below the poverty line | 15.0%±2.7 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.2%±6.0 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.9%±2.5 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.6%±3.1 pts | 88.6% | – |
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 Ballard County?
Owners occupy 76.0% of Ballard County's occupied homes and renters 24.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $145,800 by its owner (±$17,180). The median renter pays $817 a month including utilities, and 24.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ballard County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $145,800±$17,180 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $817±$147 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.4%±8.6 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,131±$116 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.0%±4.0 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,702±27 | 2,023,116 | −215 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.3%±2.4 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.0%±4.1 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.8%±3.3 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.4%±2.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
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 Ballard County get to work?
87.2% of Ballard County's workers drive alone and 2.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.6%.
| Measure | Ballard County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.7%±3.1 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.6%±1.0 pts | 4.9% | −4.5 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 87.2%±2.7 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.6%±2.1 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.6%±1.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.6%±1.3 pts | 10.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.5 min±2.7 | 24.0 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 are Ballard County's census tracts?
Ballard County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $47,025 (Tract 9502) to $73,750 (Tract 9501).
| Tract 950121007950100 | 3,991±236 | $73,750 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 950221007950200 | 1,292±153 | $47,025 |
| Tract 950321007950300 | 2,371±214 | $60,918 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Ballard County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 110th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 95th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 107th of 120 |
| Median household income | 22nd of 120 |
| Median home value | 64th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 44th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 88th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47th of 120 |
| Median age | 11th of 120 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Ballard County 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' school search.