The Town FilesSalyersville, Kentucky
City in Magoffin County · population 1,591 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,400
- Household income
- $20,580
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.9
Salyersville is a city of 1,591 people in Magoffin County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $77,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 70% of Kentucky towns.
How Salyersville 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 Salyersville is worth $77,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $20,580, which is more affordable than 18% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $693 a month. 52.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salyersville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $693 | $837 |
| Median household income | $20,580 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 52.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Salyersville
| People | Salyersville | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 58.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Salyersville
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 15.3 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
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salyersville since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 2, 2012 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Magoffin County since 1996
Magoffin County has been included in 49 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 Magoffin County
Magoffin County had 1,936 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,288 a year. Unemployment was 9.8% in 2023; in Salyersville itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Salyersville
5 public schools with 1,946 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magoffin County High School | 9-12 | 586 | 14.7 |
| Salyersville Grade School | PK-6 | 505 | 14.0 |
| North Magoffin Elementary | PK-6 | 407 | 15.7 |
| Herald Whitaker Middle School | 7-8 | 249 | 11.3 |
| South Magoffin Elementary | PK-6 | 199 | 15.3 |
Towns near Salyersville
- Paintsville, KY15.1 mi · 4,312 people · home $116,100
- West Van Lear, KY15.3 mi · 768 people · home $135,300
- Auxier, KY16.2 mi · 715 people · home $110,600
- West Liberty, KY16.5 mi · 3,215 people · home $206,300
- Prestonsburg, KY16.8 mi · 3,681 people · home $161,300
- Van Lear, KY17.4 mi · 893 people · home $81,100
- Martin, KY20.5 mi · 513 people · home —
- Jackson, KY21.0 mi · 2,237 people · home $77,500
Salyersville questions
Is Salyersville, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salyersville scores better for retirees than 93% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 70%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Salyersville?
The median owner-occupied home in Salyersville is valued at $77,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $20,580, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $693 a month.
What is the weather like in Salyersville?
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 15.3 inches of snow.
Does Salyersville get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salyersville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)