The Town FilesEarlington, Kentucky
City in Hopkins County · population 1,257 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $64,000
- Household income
- $38,194
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 31.0
Earlington is a city of 1,257 people in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $64,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 84% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 78% of Kentucky towns.
How Earlington 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 Earlington is worth $64,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $38,194, which is more affordable than 94% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $680 a month. 70.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Earlington | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $64,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $680 | $837 |
| Median household income | $38,194 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 70.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Earlington
| People | Earlington | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Earlington
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Earlington 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 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 27 deaths and 287 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2024.
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 Earlington itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Earlington
- Mortons Gap, KY3.3 mi · 728 people · home $96,800
- Madisonville, KY4.4 mi · 19,542 people · home $164,100
- Nortonville, KY6.8 mi · 977 people · home $69,000
- Hanson, KY10.0 mi · 758 people · home $141,500
- White Plains, KY10.1 mi · 829 people · home $85,700
- Dawson Springs, KY12.2 mi · 2,452 people · home $70,000
- Crofton, KY15.8 mi · 653 people · home $85,200
- Providence, KY16.0 mi · 2,892 people · home $60,300
Earlington questions
Is Earlington, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Earlington scores better for retirees than 14% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 84%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.0).
How much does a house cost in Earlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Earlington is valued at $64,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,194, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $680 a month.
What is the weather like in Earlington?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Earlington get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Earlington 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)