The Town FilesBarbourville, Kentucky
City in Knox County · population 3,222 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,400
- Household income
- $22,046
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 34.7
Barbourville is a city of 3,222 people in Knox County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $182,400, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 99% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 94% of Kentucky towns.
How Barbourville 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 Barbourville is worth $182,400, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 8.3 times the median household income of $22,046, which is more affordable than 0% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $702 a month. 44.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barbourville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $702 | $837 |
| Median household income | $22,046 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 44.3% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Barbourville
| People | Barbourville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 51.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Barbourville
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 53.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Barbourville since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Knox County since 1996
Knox County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Knox County
Knox County had 7,685 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,409 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Barbourville itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Barbourville
12 public schools with 3,230 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox Central High School | 9-12 | 751 | 15.3 |
| Barbourville City School | PK-12 | 731 | 18.3 |
| Knox County Middle School | 6-8 | 530 | 11.3 |
| Central Elementary School | PK-5 | 311 | 13.5 |
| Jesse D Lay Elementary School | PK-5 | 306 | 12.8 |
| Girdler Elementary School | PK-5 | 276 | 11.5 |
| G R Hampton Elementary School | PK-5 | 230 | 11.5 |
| Knox County Learning Academy | 6-12 | 48 | 8.0 |
| Knox Appalachian School | 5-12 | 26 | 5.2 |
| Knox County Day Treatment | 6-12 | 21 | 10.5 |
| Knox County Career and Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
| Knox County Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Barbourville
- Corbin, KY12.9 mi · 7,856 people · home $166,000
- Williamsburg, KY17.9 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- Middlesborough, KY19.6 mi · 9,405 people · home $99,900
- London, KY20.4 mi · 7,572 people · home $170,200
- Harrogate, TN24.0 mi · 4,400 people · home $203,900
Barbourville questions
Is Barbourville, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barbourville scores better for retirees than 85% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 14%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Barbourville?
The median owner-occupied home in Barbourville is valued at $182,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $22,046, so homes cost about 8.3 times income. Median rent is $702 a month.
What is the weather like in Barbourville?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.8 inches of precipitation a year and 9.4 inches of snow.
Does Barbourville get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Barbourville in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)