The Town FilesGarrison, Kentucky
Community in Lewis County · population 731 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $66,600
- Household income
- $29,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 37.9
Garrison is a community of 731 people in Lewis County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $66,600, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 95% of Kentucky towns, better for families than 81% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Garrison 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 Garrison is worth $66,600, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $29,500, which is more affordable than 83% of Kentucky towns. 85.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garrison | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $66,600 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | — | $837 |
| Median household income | $29,500 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 85.9% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Garrison
| People | Garrison | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 54.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | — min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Garrison
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.2 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garrison since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 16, 1982 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 4, 2009.
Severe weather in Lewis County since 1996
Lewis County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Lewis County
Lewis County had 1,972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,450 a year. Unemployment was 8% in 2023; in Garrison itself the ACS puts it at 36.9%.
Public schools in Garrison
1 public school with 292 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrison Elementary School | PK-6 | 292 | 14.6 |
Towns near Garrison
- Vanceburg, KY7.7 mi · 1,428 people · home $90,600
- West Portsmouth, OH13.7 mi · 2,928 people · home $115,500
- South Shore, KY14.2 mi · 1,066 people · home $89,200
- Rosemount, OH16.1 mi · 2,117 people · home $111,900
- Portsmouth, OH16.1 mi · 18,252 people · home $103,300
- New Boston, OH16.6 mi · 2,297 people · home $64,200
- Franklin Furnace, OH18.0 mi · 1,525 people · home $147,200
- Greenup, KY19.5 mi · 1,095 people · home $143,000
Garrison questions
Is Garrison, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garrison scores better for retirees than 36% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 95%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Garrison?
The median owner-occupied home in Garrison is valued at $66,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,500, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Garrison?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 17.2 inches of snow.
Does Garrison get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garrison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 16, 1982. 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)