The Town FilesSonora, Kentucky
City in Hardin County · population 565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,400
- Household income
- $51,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 34.4
Sonora is a city of 565 people in Hardin County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $185,400, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 90% of Kentucky towns, better for families than 86% of Kentucky towns.
How Sonora 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 Sonora is worth $185,400, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $51,250, which is more affordable than 24% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $544 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sonora | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $544 | $837 |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sonora
| People | Sonora | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 32.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Sonora
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 52.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sonora since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 28, 1997 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 3, 2007.
Severe weather in Hardin County since 1996
Hardin County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hardin County
Hardin County had 48,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,787 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Sonora itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Sonora
2 public schools with 487 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creekside Elementary School | PK-5 | 451 | 16.1 |
| The Life Connection | 4-12 | 36 | 12.0 |
Towns near Sonora
- Upton, KY4.6 mi · 704 people · home $156,500
- Hodgenville, KY9.5 mi · 3,235 people · home $151,400
- Cecilia, KY9.8 mi · 575 people · home —
- Magnolia, KY10.2 mi · 535 people · home $158,100
- Buffalo, KY11.0 mi · 571 people · home $196,300
- Elizabethtown, KY12.4 mi · 31,394 people · home $245,900
- Rineyville, KY15.4 mi · 3,039 people · home $257,100
- Munfordville, KY17.0 mi · 1,686 people · home $119,000
Sonora questions
Is Sonora, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sonora scores better for retirees than 63% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 90%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Sonora?
The median owner-occupied home in Sonora is valued at $185,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,250, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $544 a month.
What is the weather like in Sonora?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Sonora get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sonora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 28, 1997. 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)