The Town FilesDawson Springs, Kentucky
City in Hopkins County · population 2,452 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $70,000
- Household income
- $32,838
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.6
Dawson Springs is a city of 2,452 people in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $70,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 82% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 70% of Kentucky towns.
How Dawson Springs 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 Dawson Springs is worth $70,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $32,838, which is more affordable than 87% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $538 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dawson Springs | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $538 | $837 |
| Median household income | $32,838 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dawson Springs
| People | Dawson Springs | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Dawson Springs
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson Springs since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 245 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 19, 2005.
Severe weather in Hopkins County since 1996
Hopkins County has been included in 30 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 |
| 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 Hopkins County
Hopkins County had 17,505 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,831 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Dawson Springs itself the ACS puts it at 11.3%.
Public schools in Dawson Springs
2 public schools with 583 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 313 | 14.2 |
| Dawson Springs Jr/Sr High School | 6-12 | 270 | 13.5 |
Towns near Dawson Springs
- Princeton, KY11.8 mi · 6,270 people · home $96,600
- Earlington, KY12.2 mi · 1,257 people · home $64,000
- Nortonville, KY12.9 mi · 977 people · home $69,000
- Mortons Gap, KY13.2 mi · 728 people · home $96,800
- Crofton, KY14.3 mi · 653 people · home $85,200
- Madisonville, KY15.3 mi · 19,542 people · home $164,100
- Providence, KY15.9 mi · 2,892 people · home $60,300
- White Plains, KY17.1 mi · 829 people · home $85,700
Dawson Springs questions
Is Dawson Springs, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dawson Springs scores better for retirees than 69% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 70%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Dawson Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Dawson Springs is valued at $70,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,838, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $538 a month.
What is the weather like in Dawson Springs?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 8.1 inches of snow.
Does Dawson Springs get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dawson Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 10, 2021. 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)