Population
22,829
2025
−4.8% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Bell County, KY: population growth, jobs and income
Bell County lost 176 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.8%).
Bell County had an estimated 22,829 residents in 2025, down 4.8% (1,152 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Kentucky as a whole (+2.2%), and the 111th fastest growth of 120 counties in Kentucky.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Bell County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Bell County, ranked against Kentucky and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$592/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes14.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months452025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+43
2025
1.9 per 1,000 residents
−98 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
6.2%
2025
−0.3 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
41
2025
−12.8% since 2021
1.8 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$31,354
2020–24
+10.2% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
6,692
2023
−2.4% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 43 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 6,692 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.4% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 6.2% in 2025, 0.3 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 41 new homes in 2025, or 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $31,354 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +10.2% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,912th.
Part of the Middlesborough, KY micro area.
Get Bell County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Bell County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Bell County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22,829 | −176 |
| 2024 | 23,005 | −255 |
| 2023 | 23,260 | −267 |
| 2022 | 23,527 | −272 |
| 2021 | 23,799 | −182 |
| 2020 | 23,981 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Bell County
Bell County lost 1,152 people since 2020; the biggest drag was natural change (−1,040).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −213 | −1,040 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −5 | −12 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +43 | −98 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −1 | −2 | |
| Total change | −176 | −1,152 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Kentucky | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 111th of 120 | 2,912th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 84th of 120 | 1,577th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 87th of 120 | 2,191st of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 118th of 120 | 3,101st of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 103rd of 120 | 2,919th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 46th of 97 | 1,635th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Bell County, KY as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Whitley County and Claiborne County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Bell County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Bell County's population change (−4.8%) was ahead of 2 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 5.
Its median household income ($31,354, 2020–24) is lower than in all 7 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell County, KY This county | 22,829 | −4.8% | 1.9 | 1.8 | $31,354 |
| Knox County, KY | 29,532 | −2.2% | −0.6 | 0.0 | $32,527 |
| Claiborne County, TN | 33,229 | +3.6% | 13.4 | 2.9 | $49,379 |
| Harlan County, KY | 24,725 | −7.6% | −4.8 | 0.0 | $41,693 |
| Clay County, KY | 19,465 | −4.2% | 0.4 | 0.0 | $40,900 |
| Leslie County, KY | 9,627 | −8.1% | −5.4 | – | $35,934 |
| Whitley County, KY | 37,297 | +1.6% | 1.3 | 1.4 | $44,615 |
| Lee County, VA | 21,642 | −2.1% | 2.3 | 0.7 | $41,827 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Bell County growing?
No. Its population fell 4.8% between 2020 and 2025, about 1,152 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Kentucky as a whole changed +2.2% over the same years. That ranks 111th of 120 counties in Kentucky for population growth.
How many people moved to Bell County?
On net, about 43 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Bell County?
It averaged 6.2% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Bell County?
About 22,829 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Bell County?
Private employers there had 6,692 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.4% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Kentucky
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Kentucky county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Bell County data alerts
Email me when Bell County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.