County · Kentucky
Hardin County, Kentucky
Hardin County, Kentucky. Hardin County had 113,482 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020, in line with Kentucky (+2.2%). It holds 10 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 28 census tracts. GEOID 21093.
Hardin County is one of the 2 counties of the Elizabethtown, KY metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
113,482
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 110,702 · ACS 2020-2024: 111,942
Median household income
$67,647
±$2,772 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$225,800
±$7,964 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$971
±$27 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Hardin County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 110,702 residents in Hardin County. The Census Bureau estimates 113,482 for July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, in line with Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 111,942 over 624 square miles of land.
| Measure | Hardin County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 111,942 | 4,534,824 | +3,415 |
| Households | 44,622±649 | 1,814,469 | +2,976 |
| Average household size | 2.44±0.04 | 2.43 | −0.10 |
| Housing units | 48,108±116 | 2,023,116 | +1,431 |
Hardin County's population since 2000
From 94,174 in 2000 to 113,482 in 2025: up 20.5%. 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 Hardin County?
Hardin County holds 10 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Elizabethtown with 35,448 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Elizabethtown | 31,394 | $60,760 |
|---|---|---|
| Radcliff | 23,042 | $58,559 |
| Vine Grove | 6,559 | $72,560 |
| Fort Knox | 7,742 | $82,663 |
| Rineyville | 3,039 | $84,511 |
| West Point | 952 | $37,449 |
| CeciliaGEOID 2113636 | 575 | $71,544 |
| SonoraGEOID 2171724 | 565 | $51,250 |
| Upton | 704 | $43,173 |
| Muldraugh | 1,040 | $60,508 |
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 Hardin County?
The median resident of Hardin County is 37.3 years old; 24.7% are under 18 and 15.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 74.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.7%. 4.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hardin County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3±0.3 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.7% | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.1%±0.1 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.5% | 5.0% | +0.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 74.4%±0.2 pts | 81.5% | −1.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.7%±0.6 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.2%±0.3 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7%±0.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.3%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.8%±0.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 15.3%±1.0 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 17.5%±1.0 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.8%±0.8 pts | 6.0% | +1.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4%±0.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.8%±1.4 pts | 27.6% | +2.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.8%±1.0 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.7%±0.7 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 Hardin County earn?
Half of Hardin County's 44,622 households earn less than $67,647 a year (±$2,772), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $66,909 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hardin County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,647±$2,772 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $93,596±$5,719 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,638±$2,299 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.1%±1.5 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.8%±3.0 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.8%±1.2 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.1%±1.2 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 Hardin County?
Owners occupy 62.6% of Hardin County's occupied homes and renters 37.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $225,800 by its owner (±$7,964). The median renter pays $971 a month including utilities, and 28.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hardin County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $225,800±$7,964 | $205,600 | +$33,073 |
| Median gross rent | $971±$27 | $967 | −$47 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.3%±3.5 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,444±$41 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.6%±1.7 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 48,108±116 | 2,023,116 | +1,431 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2%±1.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.9%±1.6 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.3%±1.0 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6%±0.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.8%±0.8 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 many new homes is Hardin County building?
Builders took permits for 432 new housing units across Hardin County in 2025 (346 single-family), 3.8 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hardin County get to work?
76.7% of Hardin County's workers drive alone and 9.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.6%.
| Measure | Hardin County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.1%±1.3 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6%±1.1 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.7%±1.7 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4%±1.3 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 2.7%±0.5 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.2%±1.1 pts | 10.2% | +5.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.4 min±0.7 | 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 Hardin County's census tracts?
Hardin County is divided into 28 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $37,941 (Tract 1) to $115,932 (Tract 16.03).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Hardin County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 6th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 53rd of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 16th of 120 |
| Median household income | 18th of 120 |
| Median home value | 18th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 18th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 100th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22nd of 120 |
| Median age | 110th 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 Hardin 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.