The Town FilesBardwell, Kentucky
City in Carlisle County · population 714 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,200
- Household income
- $47,784
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 38.4
Bardwell is a city of 714 people in Carlisle County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $74,200, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 75% of Kentucky towns.
How Bardwell 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 Bardwell is worth $74,200, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $47,784, which is more affordable than 96% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $683 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bardwell | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,200 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $683 | $837 |
| Median household income | $47,784 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bardwell
| People | Bardwell | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.6% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Bardwell
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 5.7 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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bardwell since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 14, 2019 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 2, 2002.
Severe weather in Carlisle County since 1996
Carlisle County has been included in 27 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 |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Carlisle County
Carlisle County had 1,046 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,625 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bardwell itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Bardwell
3 public schools with 738 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle County Elementary School | PK-5 | 409 | 15.1 |
| Carlisle County High School | 9-12 | 194 | 12.9 |
| Carlisle County Middle School | 6-8 | 135 | 12.3 |
Towns near Bardwell
- Wickliffe, KY7.5 mi · 670 people · home $68,400
- Barlow, KY12.3 mi · 653 people · home $68,100
- Cairo, IL13.2 mi · 1,733 people · home $32,000
- La Center, KY13.9 mi · 872 people · home $92,300
- Clinton, KY14.5 mi · 1,222 people · home $67,100
- Kevil, KY16.0 mi · 595 people · home $137,500
- Mound City, IL16.8 mi · 526 people · home $55,600
- Charleston, MO18.2 mi · 5,056 people · home $123,700
Bardwell questions
Is Bardwell, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bardwell scores better for retirees than 75% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 67%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Bardwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Bardwell is valued at $74,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,784, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $683 a month.
What is the weather like in Bardwell?
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 5.7 inches of snow.
Does Bardwell get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bardwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 14, 2019. 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)