The Town FilesSouth Shore, Kentucky
City in Greenup County · population 1,066 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,200
- Household income
- $29,340
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 41.1
South Shore is a city of 1,066 people in Greenup County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $89,200, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 85% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 76% of Kentucky towns.
How South Shore 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 South Shore is worth $89,200, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $29,340, which is more affordable than 53% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $624 a month. 59.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Shore | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,200 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $624 | $837 |
| Median household income | $29,340 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 59.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in South Shore
| People | South Shore | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in South Shore
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.6 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Shore since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 23, 1968 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 81 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 9, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 5, 1996.
Severe weather in Greenup County since 1996
Greenup County has been included in 33 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 Greenup County
Greenup County had 7,009 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,910 a year. Unemployment was 6.5% in 2023; in South Shore itself the ACS puts it at 23%.
Public schools in South Shore
2 public schools with 812 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mckell Elementary School | PK-5 | 473 | 13.9 |
| Mckell Middle School | 6-8 | 339 | 14.1 |
Towns near South Shore
- Portsmouth, OH2.3 mi · 18,252 people · home $103,300
- New Boston, OH2.5 mi · 2,297 people · home $64,200
- Rosemount, OH3.6 mi · 2,117 people · home $111,900
- West Portsmouth, OH5.2 mi · 2,928 people · home $115,500
- Sciotodale, OH6.4 mi · 1,049 people · home $120,000
- Wheelersburg, OH6.5 mi · 6,531 people · home $210,000
- Franklin Furnace, OH9.0 mi · 1,525 people · home $147,200
- Clarktown, OH9.4 mi · 911 people · home $207,400
South Shore questions
Is South Shore, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Shore scores better for retirees than 36% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 27%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in South Shore?
The median owner-occupied home in South Shore is valued at $89,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,340, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $624 a month.
What is the weather like in South Shore?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.6 inches of snow.
Does South Shore get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Shore since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 23, 1968. 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)