Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Glasgow grades D overall, ranked 127th of 138 in Kentucky, mostly because of health and incomes. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 93% of the country. The median household income is $43K, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. It also has a long history, with 23 places on the National Register. 39% of working residents work locally in Glasgow, above both the Kentucky town median (15%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Its National Register listings include Octagon Cottage and Charles Penn Edmunds House. Among 142 Kentucky towns, just 5 have a higher July high than Glasgow.
Where Glasgow beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Census counts: 244 in 1810, 15,014 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1855 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
17 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kentucky), ordered by how far Glasgow is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Glasgow. Close and well known come first.
Big draw10 mi National ParkMammoth Cave National Park661K visitors a year
38 mi National Historical ParkAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park213K visitors a year
25 mi MuseumNational Corvette Museum
30 mi CaveLost River Cave
26 mi Theme parkBeech Bend Park14 mi Zoo & aquariumKentucky Down UnderMammoth Cave National Park: Willis Thomas Lee, Public domain · Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park: Jamie from Toronto, ON, CC BY 2.0 · National Corvette Museum: Jonrev at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Lost River Cave: Nyttend, Public domain · Beech Bend Park: Acdixon, CC0
Who provides power, water and the rest in Glasgow, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Glasgow.
Glasgow draws workers from Bowling Green and beyond, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has seen reported crime fall by a third or more.
12,123 jobs are based in Glasgow, 2.1 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
About one in 3 of Glasgow’s working residents works in town. Glasgow’s average trip to work is 20 minutes. Jobs based in Glasgow fell to 12,123 in 2023, 886 fewer than in 2013.
| Glasgow | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Barren County school district. Three of its 15 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Cross Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 679 | A− |
| Barren County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,220 | B |
| Glasgow High SchoolTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 608 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KY on state tests and graduation
Against the 3,361 U.S. towns with household incomes like Glasgow’s, it is less healthy than 72%, so its D isn’t only a matter of income.
46% of Glasgow adults have high blood pressure. Glasgow beats the Kentucky average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 17. 16% of Glasgow adults have diabetes.
| Glasgow | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 22% | 19% |
| What stands out | Glasgow | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 8.9% | 5.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 21.6% | 15.5% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 11.5% | 8.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Reported crimes fell from 504 to 287 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The property crime rate in Glasgow is 16.5 per 1,000 residents.
| Glasgow | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.5 per 1,000 residents | 8.2 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
5.7 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Beaver Trail Park, at 28 acres.
| Glasgow | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.6% | 1.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Beaver Trail Park | — | 28 |
| 2. Gorin Park | 0.1 mi | 27 |
| 3. Weldon Park | — | 19 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Glasgow has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 26° and about 6 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Kentucky average. 25% of residents are under 18 in Glasgow. 22% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 28% across Kentucky.
| Glasgow | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 25% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 17% | 18% |
| Median age | 37.8 years | 37.6 years | 40.5 years |
54% women, 46% men
About 85 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.9 points). Across Kentucky, 50.5% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 76% are women (KY 58%).
| Glasgow | KY | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.9% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.1% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.2% | 13.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.2% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.9% | 10.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.5% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.4% | 11.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 41.7% | 32.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.3% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6.2% | 9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.7% | 16.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.7% | 11.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 13 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Glasgow.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical Glasgow home is worth about $215,000, down 1% in a year, 7% below the Kentucky typical home.
| Glasgow | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 59% | 73% |
| Median rent | $849 a month | $937 a month | $1,185 a month |
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
None within 15 miles of Glasgow; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Glasgow residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
Where Glasgow’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
17 places in Glasgow on the National Register of Historic Places.
20 notable people were born in Glasgow.
City in Kentucky, United States
Glasgow is a home rule-class city in Barren County, Kentucky, United States. It is the seat of its county. Glasgow is the principal city of the Glasgow micropolitan area, which comprises Barren and Metcalfe counties. The population was 15,014 at the 2020 U.S. census. The city is well known for its annual Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, Barren County was named the number one rural place to live by The Progressive Farmer magazine.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Glasgow grades D overall, better than 11% of U.S. towns and #127 of 138 in Kentucky. It grades D for health, C for safety and B+ for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
That is 4.2 years of the area's median household income ($50,729 across the Glasgow, KY area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
20 notable people were born here, including Diane Sawyer and Billy Vaughn.
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