Barren County
KY · Pop. 44,670 · Suburban County
Barren County, Kentucky covers 487 square miles with a population of 44,670 and a density of 91.7 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, corn, soybeans. A median home price of $167,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.73% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 193-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.6°F and average winter lows of 29.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 52.9 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. T J Samson Community Hospital is 3.7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 193-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.73% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $167,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 94.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- T J Samson Community Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.7 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 21% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Barren County, KY is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 77/100
- Median home price
- $167k
- Property tax
- 0.73%
- Growing season
- 193 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 52.9"
- Broadband
- 94.7%
- Nearest hospital
- T J Samson Community Hospital, 3.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Barren County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Barren County?
- Barren County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 193-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.6°F, and average winter lows of 29.6°F. The established crops are hay, corn, soybeans.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $167,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.73%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 94.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- T J Samson Community Hospital is 3.7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Kentucky
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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