The Town FilesBenham, Kentucky
City in Harlan County · population 512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $53,000
- Household income
- $44,946
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.6
Benham is a city of 512 people in Harlan County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $53,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 95% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Kentucky towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kentucky
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Kentucky With the Cheapest Homes
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in Kentucky With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #5 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kentucky With Mild Winters
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kentucky
- #10 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Kentucky
How Benham 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 Benham is worth $53,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $44,946, which is more affordable than 99% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $769 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benham | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $53,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $769 | $837 |
| Median household income | $44,946 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Benham
| People | Benham | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Benham
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 25.7°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.6 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Benham since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on November 10, 2002.
Severe weather in Harlan County since 1996
Harlan County has been included in 33 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 |
| 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 |
| November 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4848: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Harlan County
Harlan County had 6,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,461 a year. Unemployment was 6.6% in 2023; in Benham itself the ACS puts it at 9.3%.
Towns near Benham
- Lynch, KY2.1 mi · 658 people · home $58,600
- Cumberland, KY2.9 mi · 1,947 people · home $66,500
- Appalachia, VA9.4 mi · 1,432 people · home $67,100
- Big Stone Gap, VA12.0 mi · 5,254 people · home $163,000
- Whitesburg, KY12.8 mi · 1,773 people · home $111,700
- Big Stone Gap East, VA12.9 mi · 687 people · home $168,100
- Dryden, VA13.0 mi · 986 people · home $130,300
- East Stone Gap, VA13.4 mi · 537 people · home $114,000
Benham questions
Is Benham, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benham scores better for retirees than 95% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 95%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Benham?
The median owner-occupied home in Benham is valued at $53,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,946, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $769 a month.
What is the weather like in Benham?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 25.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34.6 inches of snow.
Does Benham get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Benham 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)