The Town FilesJamestown, Kentucky
City in Russell County · population 1,867 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,800
- Household income
- $20,541
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 44.3
Jamestown is a city of 1,867 people in Russell County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $121,800, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 72% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 71% of Kentucky towns.
How Jamestown 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 Jamestown is worth $121,800, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $20,541, which is more affordable than 1% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $504 a month. 43.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamestown | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,800 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $504 | $837 |
| Median household income | $20,541 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 43.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.0% | — |
Who lives in Jamestown
| People | Jamestown | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 44.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 88.6% |
Weather in Jamestown
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Russell County since 1996
Russell County has been included in 23 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 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 Russell County
Russell County had 6,399 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,596 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Jamestown itself the ACS puts it at 16.2%.
Public schools in Jamestown
1 public school with 507 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown Elementary School | PK-5 | 507 | 15.8 |
Towns near Jamestown
- Russell Springs, KY4.2 mi · 2,715 people · home $170,300
- Columbia, KY15.5 mi · 4,845 people · home $143,600
- Monticello, KY15.7 mi · 5,753 people · home $132,400
- Albany, KY21.1 mi · 1,760 people · home $111,100
- Burkesville, KY21.6 mi · 1,388 people · home $117,300
- Burnside, KY23.2 mi · 694 people · home $167,300
- Liberty, KY23.8 mi · 2,028 people · home $122,300
- Somerset, KY26.2 mi · 11,924 people · home $144,000
Jamestown questions
Is Jamestown, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamestown scores better for retirees than 66% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 62%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Jamestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamestown is valued at $121,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $20,541, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $504 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamestown?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 4.9 inches of snow.
Does Jamestown get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. 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)