East Bernstadt (1), 2012
East Bernstadt’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 774 in 2000, 809 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1952 on.
- 1882East Bernstadt is settled
East BernstadtKY
A town of 669, settled in 1882.
First Evangelical Reformed Church · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
669
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$145K
−2.2% in a year
Household income
$36K
median
Median age
47.3
years
Jobs based here
83
A commuter town
Settled
1882
144 years ago
Is East Bernstadt a good place to live?
25% of residents live below the poverty line in East Bernstadt, where Kentucky’s towns sit at 16% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Among 143 Kentucky towns, just 3 have a lower share of children under 18 than East Bernstadt. East Bernstadt has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
669 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
The data
Ordered by what stands out in East Bernstadt.
Housing
East Bernstadt stands out in Kentucky and nationally: the median rent there is lower
$145KZillow home value
Zillow values the typical East Bernstadt home at about $145,000, down 2.2% in a year, 37% below the Kentucky typical home. For households locally, the share who live in a home they own is 77%.
| East Bernstadt | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $599 a month | $934 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 59% | 73% |
Typical home value
East Bernstadt$145K
Kentucky$231K
−2.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Schools
The schools East Bernstadt’s kids attend
Public schools: the East Bernstadt Independent school district. Its one school is below. The town’s only public school teaches 544 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Bernstadt Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 544 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
Work & commute
With 0.3 jobs for every working resident, most of East Bernstadt’s workers commute out
1%work in town
Half of commuters travel less than 7 miles. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in East Bernstadt rose by 34, to 83. Most working residents leave East Bernstadt for work: only 1% work in town. The median household income here is $36,000.
| East Bernstadt | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 16 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $36,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.1% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In East Bernstadt1%
London32%
Lexington6%
Somerset3%
Richmond2%
7 mi
median commute distance
83
jobs based in East Bernstadt
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Natural hazards: low risk in East Bernstadt, mostly inland flooding
31risk score of 100
Federal disaster aid has reached households in East Bernstadt after 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2025. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 69% of U.S. communities.
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
East Bernstadt: four seasons and pleasant summers
6″snow a winter
Among 143 Kentucky towns, just 4 have a lower peak summer temperature than East Bernstadt. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 25° and about 6 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–46°
Spring43–67°
Summer63–84°
Fall45–68°
Oct 25
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults report frequent physical distress in East Bernstadt than in most of Kentucky or the rest of the country
On the CDC’s 31 measures, East Bernstadt is ahead of Kentucky on 2 and behind on 24. Among 142 Kentucky towns, just one has a higher share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than East Bernstadt. In East Bernstadt, 29% of adults smoke cigarettes.
| East Bernstadt | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 23% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 18% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 15% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
2 better5 too close to call24 worse
| What stands out | East Bernstadt | KY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.3% | 14.2% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 84.1% | 81.3% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 37.7% | 18.9% |
Saint Joseph London
3.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Bernstadt
16pages on East Bernstadt
The big questions
Out and about
Getting set up
Moving to East Bernstadt: who provides what
East Bernstadt is unincorporated, so Laurel County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerKU11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWood Creek Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesLaurel CountyLaurel County provides services here
SchoolsEast Bernstadt Independent School DistrictLaurel County School District for East Bernstadt ISD2 districts serve East Bernstadt; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Kentucky you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLaurel County ClerkLaurel County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2019
ZIP code4072940729 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave East Bernstadt for work
Where East Bernstadt’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
83jobs based in East Bernstadt
1%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of East Bernstadt; the nearest are
Union Commonwealth UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Barbourville26 mi$30,946 tuitionSomerset Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Somerset28.4 mi$4,728 in-state tuitionEastern Kentucky UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Richmond39 mi$10,320 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 East Bernstadt residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kentucky.
About East Bernstadt
Census-designated place in Kentucky, United States
East Bernstadt is a census-designated place (CDP) and coal town in Laurel County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 census, East Bernstadt had a population of 809.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,198 ft
- ZIP code
- 40729
Questions about East Bernstadt
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Bernstadt, KY a good place to live?
East Bernstadt has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
East Bernstadt is in here
Say something about East Bernstadt.
Ask a question, answer one, post a photo or an event. Free, and the parts only a neighbor would know are the parts worth reading.