The Town FilesLondon, Kentucky
City in Laurel County · population 7,572 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,200
- Household income
- $47,591
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.0
London is a city of 7,572 people in Laurel County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $170,200, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more vibrant than 75% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 74% of Kentucky towns.
How London 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 London is worth $170,200, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $47,591, which is more affordable than 24% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $815 a month. 47.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | London | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,200 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $815 | $837 |
| Median household income | $47,591 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 47.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in London
| People | London | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 88.6% |
Weather in London
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 26.7°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of London 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 2.8 miles from the town center and killed 17. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 23 deaths and 82 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 1, 2002.
Severe weather in Laurel County since 1996
Laurel County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 Laurel County
Laurel County had 26,264 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,566 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in London itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in London
15 public schools with 7,412 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Laurel High School | 9-12 | 1,260 | 18.3 |
| South Laurel High School | 9-12 | 1,121 | 20.8 |
| North Laurel Middle School | 6-8 | 963 | 15.5 |
| South Laurel Middle School | 6-8 | 904 | 15.6 |
| London Elementary School | PK-5 | 554 | 15.4 |
| Bush Elementary School | PK-5 | 518 | 16.2 |
| Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 414 | 12.9 |
| Colony Elementary School | PK-5 | 372 | 15.5 |
| Johnson Elementary School | PK-5 | 317 | 16.7 |
| Camp Ground Elementary School | PK-5 | 312 | 17.3 |
| Sublimity Elementary School | PK-5 | 301 | 13.7 |
| Cold Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 266 | 15.6 |
Towns near London
- Corbin, KY12.9 mi · 7,856 people · home $166,000
- Barbourville, KY20.4 mi · 3,222 people · home $182,400
- Williamsburg, KY26.6 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- Somerset, KY29.2 mi · 11,924 people · home $144,000
London questions
Is London, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, London scores better for retirees than 16% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 26%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in London?
The median owner-occupied home in London is valued at $170,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,591, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $815 a month.
What is the weather like in London?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 26.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 5.7 inches of snow.
Does London get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of London 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)