Harlan County's composite score of 74.0 ranks 48% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the above-average tier of U.S. counties. This performance is anchored by exceptional housing affordability.
2 / 5
Near Kentucky State Average, Slightly Below
Harlan County scores 74.0, falling just shy of the Kentucky state average of 75.0 and placing it in the middle-lower segment of state counties. It performs near the typical Kentucky county experience.
3 / 5
Exceptional Housing Affordability Dominant
Harlan County's cost score of 90.2 is the highest in this entire group, with median home values of just $73,100 and rents at $651/month. This extreme affordability makes it one of Kentucky's most accessible housing markets.
4 / 5
Income and Tax Pressures Challenge Residents
The income score of 7.7 reflects the lowest median household income at $37,198, while the effective tax rate of 0.988% is the highest in this group. These dual pressures on finances create significant earning and tax burden challenges.
5 / 5
Suited for Extremely Budget-Limited Populations
Harlan County is best for retirees on minimal fixed incomes and those seeking absolute rock-bottom housing costs regardless of local wage levels. Its exceptional affordability comes with trade-offs in income potential and tax efficiency that require careful financial planning.
Harlan County's composite score of 74.0 ranks 48% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the above-average tier of U.S. counties. This performance is anchored by exceptional housing affordability.
Near Kentucky State Average, Slightly Below
Harlan County scores 74.0, falling just shy of the Kentucky state average of 75.0 and placing it in the middle-lower segment of state counties. It performs near the typical Kentucky county experience.
Exceptional Housing Affordability Dominant
Harlan County's cost score of 90.2 is the highest in this entire group, with median home values of just $73,100 and rents at $651/month. This extreme affordability makes it one of Kentucky's most accessible housing markets.
Income and Tax Pressures Challenge Residents
The income score of 7.7 reflects the lowest median household income at $37,198, while the effective tax rate of 0.988% is the highest in this group. These dual pressures on finances create significant earning and tax burden challenges.
Suited for Extremely Budget-Limited Populations
Harlan County is best for retirees on minimal fixed incomes and those seeking absolute rock-bottom housing costs regardless of local wage levels. Its exceptional affordability comes with trade-offs in income potential and tax efficiency that require careful financial planning.
Score breakdown
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🏛74.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Harlan County's effective tax rate of 0.988% exceeds the national median of roughly 0.85%, placing it among the highest-tax counties in the U.S. However, the median property tax of just $722 remains far below the national median of $2,690, reflecting the county's very low property values.
Highest-tax county in Kentucky
Harlan County's 0.988% effective rate is the highest in the commonwealth, significantly exceeding Kentucky's state average of 0.719%. Though median taxes of $722 seem low, the rate is punitive relative to property values, making Harlan the most tax-burdened county by percentage.
Steepest rate in its region
Harlan County's 0.988% effective tax rate far surpasses every peer county, driven by the region's lowest median home value of $73,100. This combination creates the sharpest tax burden relative to property wealth among these eight counties.
What your Harlan County home costs
A homeowner with a median-valued property of $73,100 pays approximately $722 annually in property taxes at the steep 0.988% rate. With a mortgage, that figure rises to $881 when including escrow and insurance; without a mortgage, it drops to $616.
Appeals are critical in Harlan
Harlan County's unusually high effective tax rate makes assessment accuracy especially important—even small overvaluations have outsized impact. Contact the Harlan County Property Valuation Administrator immediately if you suspect your assessment is inflated; an appeal could meaningfully reduce your burden.
Harlan County renters spend 21.0% of income on housing—nearly double the national average and the worst ratio in this entire dataset. With a median household income of just $37,198 against $651 monthly rent, residents face genuine affordability strain.
Kentucky's least affordable county
Harlan County's 21.0% rent-to-income ratio far exceeds Kentucky's 17.0% state average and ranks as the state's least affordable among these eight counties. The convergence of low incomes ($37,198) with even modest rents creates unsustainable housing burdens.
Worst-positioned regionally
Harlan County's 21.0% rent-to-income ratio dwarfs every peer, with even the second-worst (Green County at 17.9%) offering significantly better affordability. Median incomes here trail all comparable counties by thousands of dollars.
Housing costs dominate budgets
Renters allocate $651 monthly while homeowners pay just $439 against a median income of $37,198—the lowest in this dataset. Renters dedicate 21% of earnings to housing, leaving minimal room for healthcare, food, transportation, or emergencies.
Challenging market for newcomers
Harlan County offers the lowest home values ($73,100) and some of the cheapest rents, but severe income limitations create a difficult affordability picture overall. Relocators should carefully assess local job prospects and wages before moving—the apparent bargains mask deeper economic challenges.
Harlan County's median household income of $37,198 is 50.3% below the U.S. median of $74,755, representing one of America's most economically distressed counties. The profound shortfall reflects decades of industrial decline and limited economic diversification.
Kentucky's lowest income county
At $37,198, Harlan County's median household income is 33.5% below Kentucky's state average of $55,909, placing it among the state's poorest communities. The gap underscores the county's acute economic marginalization.
Significantly trails all sampled counties
Harlan County's $37,198 median income is the lowest by far among the eight sampled counties, falling $3,889 below the next-lowest Green County ($41,087). The gap reflects structural economic barriers distinct even from rural Kentucky's broader struggles.
Housing crisis compounds income poverty
A rent-to-income ratio of 21.0% is the highest among sampled counties, meaning housing costs consume one-fifth of household earnings—significantly above the 30% affordability threshold for those with very low incomes. A median home value of $73,100 offers low absolute prices but represents nearly two years of median household income.
Seek immediate economic opportunity
Harlan County residents facing severe income constraints should prioritize accessing workforce development, vocational training, and higher education opportunities that can unlock wage growth. Community organizations, nonprofits, and government programs offer support for basic financial stability and long-term economic mobility.
At 65.7 years, Harlan County's life expectancy is 6.3 years below the U.S. average of 72.0 years—a gap rivaling some developing nations. With 31.3% reporting poor or fair health, Harlan's rate is 10 percentage points above the national average, indicating a population in crisis.
Harlan County's health crisis exceeds state average
Harlan's 65.7-year life expectancy lags Kentucky's 72.2-year state average by 6.5 years—the worst in this eight-county region. The 31.3% poor/fair health rate dramatically exceeds Kentucky's typical rates and signals deeply rooted health challenges.
Poorest health outcomes by far
Harlan County's 65.7-year life expectancy is 8+ years below Hancock County (74.8) and Green County (73.8), the worst in the region by a wide margin. With 34 primary care providers per 100K, Harlan has fewer doctors than most neighbors, and 59 mental health providers per 100K reflects limited behavioral health infrastructure.
Healthcare access and insurance barriers
Harlan County's 6.6% uninsured rate (roughly 1,000 residents) combines with limited provider access—only 34 primary care doctors per 100K—to create significant healthcare barriers. The 31.3% poor/fair health rate suggests that economic hardship, chronic disease, opioid addiction, and limited treatment access have devastated community health.
Health coverage is critical now
The 6.6% of uninsured Harlan County residents urgently need to explore Healthcare.gov, Medicaid, and community health center options—coverage can access addiction treatment, mental health care, and disease management. If you're uninsured, reaching out today could add years to your life.
Harlan County scores 65.74 on the composite risk scale with a Relatively Low rating, exceeding Kentucky's state average of 44.21 by 48%. This positions the county among Kentucky's higher natural disaster exposure zones.
Upper-middle risk across Kentucky
Harlan County ranks notably above Kentucky's median disaster risk, with its 65.74 score placing it in the state's higher-risk band. Approximately 30% of Kentucky counties face comparable or greater exposure.
Riskier than most nearby counties
Harlan County's 65.74 score substantially exceeds Grant County (16.29) and Grayson County (45.26), though trails Hardin County (75.51). Its wildfire risk of 69.82 is particularly pronounced compared to regional peers.
Flooding and wildfires are critical threats
Flood risk at 79.87 is Harlan County's leading hazard, closely followed by wildfire risk at 69.82—both significantly above the state average. Earthquake risk at 56.17 and hurricane risk at 42.55 add additional concerns.
Flood and wildfire insurance essential
Harlan County residents should prioritize homeowners insurance with wildfire coverage alongside separate flood insurance, given the county's 79.87 flood and 69.82 wildfire scores. These hazards represent the county's most significant property risks.