CountyScore

Barren County

Kentucky · KY

#91 in Kentucky
68.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Barren County, Kentucky

Barren ranks 47% above national median

Barren County's composite score of 73.7 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper half of U.S. counties. The county's competitive position rests primarily on low housing costs and favorable tax treatment rather than income levels.

Slightly below Kentucky's typical county

With a score of 73.7, Barren County falls just short of Kentucky's state average of 75.0, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of the Commonwealth's counties. The county offers adequate livability but trails several peer counties in overall appeal.

Housing affordability and tax efficiency

Barren County delivers strong affordability with a cost score of 82.2, median rent at $784/month, and median home values at $166,900. The tax score of 81.8 and effective tax rate of 0.726% make the county particularly attractive to budget-conscious households.

Low income levels pose significant challenge

Barren County's income score of 15.5 is among the lowest, with median household income at just $49,171—well below state and regional norms. This income weakness limits household discretionary spending despite low cost of living.

Ideal for retirees and very cost-first households

Barren County best suits retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers, and families where keeping expenses minimal is the primary goal. The strong affordability makes limited income less constraining than in higher-cost counties.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax81.8Cost82.2SafetyComing SoonHealth65.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome15.5Risk32.1WaterComing Soon
🏛81.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼15.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤65.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡32.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Barren County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Etowah County
Alabama
68.3
Median income: $53,070
Greene County
Arkansas
68.3
Median income: $56,793
Charlton County
Georgia
68.3
Median income: $48,534
Wilkes County
Georgia
68.3
Median income: $52,542
Greene County
Illinois
68.3
Median income: $60,976

Deep Dives

Barren County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Barren County

via TaxByCounty

Barren taxes moderate vs. nation

Barren County's 0.726% effective tax rate sits just below the national median of 0.85%, placing it squarely in the middle of American counties. The median annual property tax of $1,212 represents roughly 45% of the national median of $2,690, owing to lower home valuations.

Slightly above Kentucky average

Barren County's 0.726% effective rate marginally exceeds Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, positioning it in the moderate-to-upper range statewide. The median property tax of $1,212 tops the state median of $1,093 by just 11%.

Mid-range taxes for south-central region

Barren County's 0.726% rate falls between Allen County's lower 0.551% and Adair County's 0.684%, making it one of the pricier south-central jurisdictions. Warren County neighbors experience similar tax pressures.

What $166,900 home costs annually

A median Barren County home appraised at $166,900 carries roughly $1,212 in annual property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages typically face combined annual tax and insurance costs near $1,359.

Appeal if you're overvalued

Barren County homeowners should verify their assessment accuracy during the county's revaluation cycle, as small overassessments compound significantly over years. A successful appeal often returns $200–$400 annually to homeowners' pockets.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Barren County

via CostByCounty

Barren faces Kentucky's affordability challenge

Barren County's 19.1% rent-to-income ratio is among Kentucky's highest, reflecting incomes of just $49,171 against rents that stretch household budgets significantly. This ratio exceeds the national comfort zone of 15-17%, signaling genuine housing stress for renters.

Strain evident in statewide rankings

Barren's 19.1% ratio ranks it among the state's least affordable counties, nearly 2 percentage points above Kentucky's 17.0% state average. Only a handful of Kentucky counties struggle more with housing affordability than Barren.

Higher rents, lower incomes

Barren's $784 median rent approaches Ballard's ($826) but homes are priced lower at $166,900 versus Ballard's $132,900, reflecting mixed market signals. Owner costs of $798 monthly compete with Ballard at $784, while incomes lag behind both neighbors.

Housing dominates the Barren budget

At $49,171 median income, renters paying $784 monthly dedicate 19.1% of earnings to rent alone, while homeowners allocate $798 or roughly 19.5% to mortgages. This leaves limited margin for healthcare, education, and emergencies in Barren households.

Barren requires income flexibility

Only relocate to Barren if your income significantly exceeds the county median or you can secure stable dual-income employment. Compare affordability with neighboring Adair and Allen before committing to a move.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Barren County

via IncomeByCounty

Barren County Income: 34% Below National

Barren County's median household income of $49,171 lags the U.S. median of $74,755 by more than $25,000, placing it among the nation's lower-income counties. This substantial gap reflects Barren's reliance on agriculture, manufacturing, and rural service economy with limited high-wage employment.

Among Kentucky's Lower-Income Counties

At $49,171, Barren County ranks below Kentucky's state average of $55,909 by roughly $6,700, positioning it in the lower third of the state's income distribution. Per capita income of $28,422 also falls slightly below the state average of $29,616.

Similar Challenges to Other Rural Counties

Barren County's income nearly matches Adair County ($50,316) and only marginally exceeds Bell County ($32,403), reflecting consistent economic strain across rural south-central Kentucky. The county significantly lags Anderson ($71,747) and Boone ($94,752).

Housing Costs Strain Household Budgets

Barren County's rent-to-income ratio of 19.1% approaches the affordability threshold, meaning residents dedicate nearly one-fifth of earnings to housing. While median home values of $166,900 remain somewhat affordable, income constraints limit wealth-building opportunities for many families.

Maximize Available Resources for Growth

Barren County residents should prioritize building an emergency fund covering 3–6 months of expenses before investing; explore all employer retirement benefits and government assistance programs. A financial advisor can help identify low-cost savings strategies and debt reduction plans tailored to modest-income households.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Barren County

via HealthByCounty

Barren life expectancy trails nation

Barren County residents live to 73.7 years, about 4.5 years less than the U.S. average of 78.2 years. About 22.3% report poor or fair health, above the national average of 21%.

Above-average health status statewide

Barren's 73.7-year life expectancy exceeds Kentucky's state average of 72.2 years by 1.5 years, ranking it in the upper half of state counties. The 22.3% poor/fair health rate is near the state average.

Excellent primary care access

Barren stands out with 70 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—significantly more than most neighbors, including Adair (26) and Anderson (29). Mental health coverage is also strong at 244 providers per 100,000.

Uninsured rate slightly elevated

About 7.7% of Barren residents lack health insurance, the highest rate among these eight counties and 0.7 percentage points above Kentucky's 7.0% average. Despite strong provider supply, coverage gaps limit access for some residents.

Bridge Barren's coverage gap

The 7.7% of uninsured Barren residents have a clear path to coverage at kynect.ky.gov—the county's ample providers mean insurance translates directly to care. Medicaid expansion has made coverage affordable for most working families.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Barren County

via RiskByCounty

Barren County faces elevated natural disaster risk

Barren County scores 67.91 with a Relatively Low rating, exceeding the national average and signaling above-average exposure to multiple hazards. The county's tornado risk of 85.43 and flood risk of 67.78 make it notably more vulnerable than average U.S. counties.

Barren ranks in riskier half of Kentucky

With a composite score of 67.91, Barren County ranks above the state average of 44.21 and falls into Kentucky's higher-risk counties. The county faces substantially greater exposure to major natural disasters than most of its peers.

Barren's risk profile exceeds nearby counties

Barren County (67.91) carries notably higher risk than Anderson County (26.34) or Bath County (13.71) and substantially exceeds Allen County (33.33). Only Boone County (74.46) and Bell County (68.00) approach Barren's threat level in the state.

Tornadoes and floods are twin threats

Tornado risk at 85.43 ranks among Kentucky's highest, while flood risk of 67.78 places Barren in serious flood-prone territory. Earthquake risk at 77.35 adds a third significant concern to the county's natural hazard profile.

Tornado and flood insurance are critical

Barren County homeowners should ensure comprehensive coverage for both tornado and flood damage—standard homeowners policies exclude flood coverage, requiring a separate NFIP or private policy. Securing a family tornado safe room provides crucial backup protection.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.