The Town FilesHanson, Kentucky
City in Hopkins County · population 758 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,500
- Household income
- $95,903
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.1
Hanson is a city of 758 people in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $141,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 89% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 88% of Kentucky towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kentucky With Mild Winters
- #7 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Kentucky
- #7 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Kentucky
- #14 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kentucky
- #14 in 25 Small Towns in Kentucky With the Mildest Winters
- #16 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Kentucky
How Hanson 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 Hanson is worth $141,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $95,903, which is more affordable than 96% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hanson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $950 | $837 |
| Median household income | $95,903 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hanson
| People | Hanson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 13.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in Hanson
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 7.6 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
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanson since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 26 deaths and 268 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2023.
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 Hanson itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Hanson
1 public school with 490 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson Elementary School | PK-5 | 490 | 17.5 |
Towns near Hanson
- Madisonville, KY5.6 mi · 19,542 people · home $164,100
- Earlington, KY10.0 mi · 1,257 people · home $64,000
- Mortons Gap, KY12.3 mi · 728 people · home $96,800
- Sebree, KY12.8 mi · 1,574 people · home $106,500
- Dixon, KY13.3 mi · 933 people · home $82,500
- Calhoun, KY14.7 mi · 725 people · home $113,300
- Providence, KY15.0 mi · 2,892 people · home $60,300
- Nortonville, KY16.1 mi · 977 people · home $69,000
Hanson questions
Is Hanson, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hanson scores better for retirees than 98% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 87%. 30.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Hanson?
The median owner-occupied home in Hanson is valued at $141,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,903, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Hanson?
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 7.6 inches of snow.
Does Hanson get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanson 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)