The Town FilesGlasgow, Kentucky
City in Barren County · population 15,014 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,900
- Household income
- $43,074
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 37.8
Glasgow is a city of 15,014 people in Barren County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $173,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more vibrant than 71% of Kentucky towns.
How Glasgow 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 Glasgow is worth $173,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $43,074, which is more affordable than 15% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $849 a month. 48.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Glasgow | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $849 | $837 |
| Median household income | $43,074 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Glasgow
| People | Glasgow | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Glasgow
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 54.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glasgow since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 16, 1998 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 28, 1997.
Severe weather in Barren County since 1996
Barren County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 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 |
Jobs and pay in Barren County
Barren County had 15,413 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,346 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Glasgow itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Glasgow
16 public schools with 6,662 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barren County High School | 9-12 | 1,301 | 16.3 |
| Highland Elementary School | PK-5 | 726 | 16.9 |
| Red Cross Elementary School | PK-6 | 697 | 14.8 |
| Barren County Middle School | 7-8 | 642 | 16.1 |
| Glasgow High School | 9-12 | 612 | 16.5 |
| South Green Elementary School | PK-5 | 558 | 16.4 |
| North Jackson Elementary | PK-6 | 546 | 16.1 |
| Glasgow Middle School | 6-8 | 534 | 17.8 |
| Eastern Elementary School | PK-6 | 333 | 14.5 |
| Hiseville Elementary School | PK-6 | 319 | 16.0 |
| Temple Hill Elementary School | PK-6 | 283 | 14.2 |
| Success Academy | 6-12 | 65 | 65.0 |
Towns near Glasgow
- Scottsville, KY23.5 mi · 4,299 people · home $160,700
- Bowling Green, KY28.1 mi · 72,294 people · home $241,900
Glasgow questions
Is Glasgow, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Glasgow scores better for retirees than 22% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 29%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Glasgow?
The median owner-occupied home in Glasgow is valued at $173,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,074, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $849 a month.
What is the weather like in Glasgow?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.9 inches of precipitation a year and 5.7 inches of snow.
Does Glasgow get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glasgow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 16, 1998. 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)