The Town FilesBurkesville, Kentucky
City in Cumberland County · population 1,388 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,300
- Household income
- $34,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 50.7
Burkesville is a city of 1,388 people in Cumberland County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $117,300, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 80% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 79% of Kentucky towns.
How Burkesville 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 Burkesville is worth $117,300, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $34,444, which is more affordable than 31% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $508 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burkesville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $508 | $837 |
| Median household income | $34,444 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Burkesville
| People | Burkesville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Burkesville
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 26.7°F. About 54.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burkesville since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 98 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 13, 2015.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 2,402 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,343 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Burkesville itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Burkesville
3 public schools with 1,018 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County Elementary School | PK-5 | 503 | 15.7 |
| Cumberland County High School | 9-12 | 302 | 17.8 |
| Cumberland County Middle School | 6-8 | 213 | 13.3 |
Towns near Burkesville
- Albany, KY14.4 mi · 1,760 people · home $111,100
- Celina, TN18.4 mi · 1,422 people · home $203,200
- Tompkinsville, KY19.2 mi · 2,309 people · home $99,000
- Edmonton, KY19.6 mi · 1,671 people · home $104,000
- Byrdstown, TN19.7 mi · 798 people · home $163,400
- Jamestown, KY21.6 mi · 1,867 people · home $121,800
- Columbia, KY21.9 mi · 4,845 people · home $143,600
- Russell Springs, KY23.9 mi · 2,715 people · home $170,300
Burkesville questions
Is Burkesville, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burkesville scores better for retirees than 80% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 64%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.7).
How much does a house cost in Burkesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Burkesville is valued at $117,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,444, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $508 a month.
What is the weather like in Burkesville?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 26.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year and 5.1 inches of snow.
Does Burkesville get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burkesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)