The Town FilesIrvine, Kentucky
City in Estill County · population 2,360 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,200
- Household income
- $42,805
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.7
Irvine is a city of 2,360 people in Estill County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $139,200, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 78% of Kentucky towns.
How Irvine 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 Irvine is worth $139,200, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $42,805, which is more affordable than 37% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $710 a month. 44.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Irvine | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,200 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $710 | $837 |
| Median household income | $42,805 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 44.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Irvine
| People | Irvine | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 88.6% |
Weather in Irvine
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Irvine since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 8, 2009 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 78 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 9, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Estill County since 1996
Estill County has been included in 38 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 |
| 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 |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Estill County
Estill County had 2,271 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,527 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Irvine itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Irvine
7 public schools with 2,188 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estill County High School | 9-12 | 647 | 15.8 |
| Estill Springs Elementary | K-5 | 477 | 15.4 |
| West Irvine Elementary | K-5 | 476 | 17.6 |
| Estill County Middle School | 6-8 | 407 | 17.7 |
| South Irvine Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 143 | 14.3 |
| Estill County Success Academy | 6-12 | 38 | 38.0 |
| Estill County Area Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Irvine
- Ravenna, KY1.2 mi · 568 people · home $94,700
- Clay City, KY11.5 mi · 1,193 people · home $63,500
- Stanton, KY12.2 mi · 3,251 people · home $123,000
- Beattyville, KY16.2 mi · 2,176 people · home $113,600
- Richmond, KY18.2 mi · 34,585 people · home $214,900
- McKee, KY18.4 mi · 803 people · home $112,800
- Berea, KY19.3 mi · 15,539 people · home $199,900
- Jeffersonville, KY19.5 mi · 1,708 people · home $140,900
Irvine questions
Is Irvine, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Irvine scores better for retirees than 97% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 71%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Irvine?
The median owner-occupied home in Irvine is valued at $139,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,805, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $710 a month.
What is the weather like in Irvine?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 12.1 inches of snow.
Does Irvine get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Irvine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 8, 2009. 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)