The Town FilesBurnside, Kentucky
City in Pulaski County · population 694 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,300
- Household income
- $58,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 48.3
Burnside is a city of 694 people in Pulaski County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $167,300, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Kentucky towns.
How Burnside 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 Burnside is worth $167,300, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $58,750, which is more affordable than 64% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $926 a month. 86.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burnside | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $926 | $837 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 86.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.0% | — |
Who lives in Burnside
| People | Burnside | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Burnside
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burnside since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 2.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 69 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 1, 2002.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 26,252 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,057 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Burnside itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Burnside
1 public school with 432 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnside Elementary School | PK-5 | 432 | 13.9 |
Towns near Burnside
- Ferguson, KY4.7 mi · 886 people · home $153,100
- Somerset, KY6.1 mi · 11,924 people · home $144,000
- Science Hill, KY11.7 mi · 657 people · home $138,700
- Monticello, KY16.1 mi · 5,753 people · home $132,400
- Whitley City, KY21.6 mi · 968 people · home $116,700
- Stearns, KY23.2 mi · 1,365 people · home $160,700
- Jamestown, KY23.2 mi · 1,867 people · home $121,800
- Russell Springs, KY24.3 mi · 2,715 people · home $170,300
Burnside questions
Is Burnside, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burnside scores better for retirees than 25% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 55%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Burnside?
The median owner-occupied home in Burnside is valued at $167,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,750, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $926 a month.
What is the weather like in Burnside?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 5.4 inches of snow.
Does Burnside get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burnside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. 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)