The Town FilesBetsy Layne, Kentucky
Community in Floyd County · population 651 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $31,838
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 61.8
Betsy Layne is a community of 651 people in Floyd County, Kentucky. It ranks quieter than 73% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 71% of Kentucky towns.
How Betsy Layne 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
Median rent is $1,100 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Betsy Layne | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,100 | $837 |
| Median household income | $31,838 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Betsy Layne
| People | Betsy Layne | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 49.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 14.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | — min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Betsy Layne
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 46.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Betsy Layne since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 7, 2014 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Floyd County since 1996
Floyd County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Floyd County
Floyd County had 11,156 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,449 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Betsy Layne itself the ACS puts it at 40%.
Public schools in Betsy Layne
2 public schools with 1,025 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy Layne Elementary School | PK-8 | 613 | 16.6 |
| Betsy Layne High School | 9-12 | 412 | 15.8 |
Towns near Betsy Layne
- Coal Run Village, KY4.1 mi · 1,669 people · home $132,400
- Pikeville, KY7.4 mi · 7,754 people · home $263,800
- Martin, KY7.5 mi · 513 people · home —
- McDowell, KY8.5 mi · 661 people · home $73,100
- Prestonsburg, KY11.8 mi · 3,681 people · home $161,300
- Auxier, KY14.9 mi · 715 people · home $110,600
- Wheelwright, KY15.6 mi · 509 people · home $72,000
- Van Lear, KY16.9 mi · 893 people · home $81,100
Betsy Layne questions
Is Betsy Layne, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Betsy Layne scores better for retirees than 71% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 73%. 49.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.8).
What is the weather like in Betsy Layne?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Betsy Layne get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Betsy Layne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 7, 2014. 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)