The Town FilesMcKee, Kentucky
City in Jackson County · population 803 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,800
- Household income
- $20,571
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 49.7
McKee is a city of 803 people in Jackson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $112,800, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 91% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 87% of Kentucky towns.
How McKee 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 McKee is worth $112,800, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $20,571, which is more affordable than 1% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $340 a month. 40.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | McKee | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,800 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $340 | $837 |
| Median household income | $20,571 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 40.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McKee
| People | McKee | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in McKee
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McKee since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 1, 1977 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 28, 1997.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 1,781 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,276 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in McKee itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in McKee
5 public schools with 1,291 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County High School | 9-12 | 551 | 17.2 |
| McKee Elementary School | PK-5 | 381 | 13.6 |
| Jackson County Middle School | 6-8 | 355 | 12.2 |
| Jackson Co Schools Learning Center | 7-12 | 4 | — |
| Jackson Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near McKee
- Annville, KY6.9 mi · 1,102 people · home $86,600
- Ravenna, KY17.8 mi · 568 people · home $94,700
- East Bernstadt, KY18.2 mi · 809 people · home $91,900
- Irvine, KY18.4 mi · 2,360 people · home $139,200
- Beattyville, KY18.7 mi · 2,176 people · home $113,600
- Mount Vernon, KY19.7 mi · 2,453 people · home $111,400
- Berea, KY20.2 mi · 15,539 people · home $199,900
- London, KY22.2 mi · 7,572 people · home $170,200
McKee questions
Is McKee, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McKee scores better for retirees than 59% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 91%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in McKee?
The median owner-occupied home in McKee is valued at $112,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $20,571, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $340 a month.
What is the weather like in McKee?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does McKee get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McKee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 1, 1977. 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)