The Town FilesOwenton, Kentucky
City in Owen County · population 1,682 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,500
- Household income
- $55,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 43.5
Owenton is a city of 1,682 people in Owen County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $137,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 94% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 91% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 74% of Kentucky towns.
How Owenton 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 Owenton is worth $137,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $55,438, which is more affordable than 76% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $726 a month. 58.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owenton | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $726 | $837 |
| Median household income | $55,438 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 58.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Owenton
| People | Owenton | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 32.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Owenton
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owenton since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 2, 2012 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Owen County since 1996
Owen County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Owen County
Owen County had 1,540 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,249 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Owenton itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Owenton
3 public schools with 1,687 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owen County Elementary/Primary School | PK-4 | 675 | 15.0 |
| Owen County High School | 9-12 | 558 | 19.9 |
| Maurice Bowling Middle School | 5-8 | 454 | 16.2 |
Towns near Owenton
- Williamstown, KY16.0 mi · 3,894 people · home $209,800
- Dry Ridge, KY16.4 mi · 2,102 people · home $216,800
- Warsaw, KY17.1 mi · 1,761 people · home $185,900
- Vevay, IN19.1 mi · 1,741 people · home $133,800
- New Castle, KY19.3 mi · 884 people · home $154,000
- Pleasureville, KY19.6 mi · 779 people · home $153,400
- Carrollton, KY20.1 mi · 3,890 people · home $113,200
- Stamping Ground, KY20.4 mi · 780 people · home $204,300
Owenton questions
Is Owenton, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owenton scores better for retirees than 91% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 94%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Owenton?
The median owner-occupied home in Owenton is valued at $137,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,438, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $726 a month.
What is the weather like in Owenton?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Owenton get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owenton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 2, 2012. 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)