The Town FilesPowderly, Kentucky
City in Muhlenberg County · population 788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,300
- Household income
- $50,662
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 38.4
Powderly is a city of 788 people in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $99,300, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 96% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 70% of Kentucky towns.
How Powderly 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 Powderly is worth $99,300, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $50,662, which is more affordable than 90% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $754 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Powderly | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $754 | $837 |
| Median household income | $50,662 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Powderly
| People | Powderly | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Powderly
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Powderly since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2016.
Severe weather in Muhlenberg County since 1996
Muhlenberg County has been included in 24 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 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 Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County had 8,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,582 a year. Unemployment was 6.1% in 2023; in Powderly itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Towns near Powderly
- Greenville, KY2.4 mi · 4,492 people · home $116,400
- Central City, KY4.2 mi · 5,819 people · home $143,600
- Beechmont, KY8.0 mi · 776 people · home $162,900
- White Plains, KY13.3 mi · 829 people · home $85,700
- Nortonville, KY17.0 mi · 977 people · home $69,000
- Mortons Gap, KY17.1 mi · 728 people · home $96,800
- Livermore, KY17.5 mi · 1,230 people · home $134,600
- Beaver Dam, KY19.1 mi · 3,531 people · home $167,900
Powderly questions
Is Powderly, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Powderly scores better for retirees than 60% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 96%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Powderly?
The median owner-occupied home in Powderly is valued at $99,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,662, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $754 a month.
What is the weather like in Powderly?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 5.5 inches of snow.
Does Powderly get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Powderly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 10, 2021. 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)