The Town FilesMcDowell, Kentucky
Community in Floyd County · population 661 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $73,100
- Household income
- $14,474
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 29.0
McDowell is a community of 661 people in Floyd County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $73,100, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 99% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 91% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Kentucky towns.
How McDowell 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 McDowell is worth $73,100, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $14,474, which is more affordable than 3% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $255 a month. 60.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | McDowell | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $73,100 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $255 | $837 |
| Median household income | $14,474 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 60.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McDowell
| People | McDowell | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 42.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 72.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | — min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in McDowell
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 46.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of McDowell since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 4, 2011 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Floyd County since 1996
Floyd County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 Floyd County
Floyd County had 11,156 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,449 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in McDowell itself the ACS puts it at 60%.
Public schools in McDowell
1 public school with 254 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John M. Stumbo Elementary School | PK-8 | 254 | 12.7 |
Towns near McDowell
- Martin, KY7.6 mi · 513 people · home —
- Wheelwright, KY8.4 mi · 509 people · home $72,000
- Betsy Layne, KY8.5 mi · 651 people · home —
- Coal Run Village, KY10.8 mi · 1,669 people · home $132,400
- Pikeville, KY11.0 mi · 7,754 people · home $263,800
- Prestonsburg, KY15.4 mi · 3,681 people · home $161,300
- Hindman, KY16.4 mi · 701 people · home $143,200
- McRoberts, KY16.8 mi · 741 people · home $60,100
McDowell questions
Is McDowell, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McDowell scores better for retirees than 91% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 99%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.0).
How much does a house cost in McDowell?
The median owner-occupied home in McDowell is valued at $73,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $14,474, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $255 a month.
What is the weather like in McDowell?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does McDowell get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of McDowell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 4, 2011. 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)