The Town FilesBarlow, Kentucky
City in Ballard County · population 653 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,100
- Household income
- $27,054
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 32.3
Barlow is a city of 653 people in Ballard County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $68,100, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for families than 83% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 83% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Barlow ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barlow is worth $68,100, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $27,054, which is more affordable than 76% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $538 a month. 47.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barlow | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,100 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $538 | $837 |
| Median household income | $27,054 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 47.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Barlow
| People | Barlow | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.6% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Barlow
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.6 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barlow since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 12, 1958 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Ballard County since 1996
Ballard County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Ballard County
Ballard County had 2,000 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,982 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Barlow itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Barlow
5 public schools with 1,039 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County Elementary School | K-5 | 463 | 15.4 |
| Ballard Memorial High School | 9-12 | 265 | 12.6 |
| Ballard County Middle School | 6-8 | 221 | 15.8 |
| Ballard Co. Preschool/Headstart Center | PK-PK | 90 | 18.0 |
| Ballard County Career and Technology Ctr | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Barlow
- La Center, KY4.2 mi · 872 people · home $92,300
- Wickliffe, KY6.2 mi · 670 people · home $68,400
- Mound City, IL6.9 mi · 526 people · home $55,600
- Cairo, IL8.2 mi · 1,733 people · home $32,000
- Kevil, KY9.2 mi · 595 people · home $137,500
- Mounds, IL9.8 mi · 661 people · home —
- Bardwell, KY12.3 mi · 714 people · home $74,200
- Charleston, MO18.4 mi · 5,056 people · home $123,700
Barlow questions
Is Barlow, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barlow scores better for retirees than 79% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 83%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.3).
How much does a house cost in Barlow?
The median owner-occupied home in Barlow is valued at $68,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,054, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $538 a month.
What is the weather like in Barlow?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.6 inches of snow.
Does Barlow get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barlow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 12, 1958. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)