The Town FilesSouth Williamson, Kentucky
Community in Pike County · population 562 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,800
- Household income
- $56,484
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.5
South Williamson is a community of 562 people in Pike County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $169,800, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 70% of Kentucky towns.
How South Williamson 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 Williamson is worth $169,800, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $56,484, which is more affordable than 53% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $723 a month. 47.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Williamson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,800 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $723 | $837 |
| Median household income | $56,484 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 47.3% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in South Williamson
| People | South Williamson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 7.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 0.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 39.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.3% | 88.6% |
Weather in South Williamson
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of South Williamson since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 20, 1998 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Pike County since 1996
Pike County has been included in 47 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 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 |
| July 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4663: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Pike County
Pike County had 20,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,529 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in South Williamson itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in South Williamson
1 public school with 236 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bevins Elementary School | PK-5 | 236 | 14.8 |
Towns near South Williamson
- Williamson, WV1.2 mi · 3,083 people · home $89,600
- Chattaroy, WV3.1 mi · 641 people · home —
- Red Jacket, WV8.6 mi · 525 people · home $207,600
- Phelps, KY12.7 mi · 760 people · home $102,700
- Holden, WV15.6 mi · 783 people · home $112,400
- Coal Run Village, KY17.1 mi · 1,669 people · home $132,400
- Pikeville, KY18.4 mi · 7,754 people · home $263,800
- Switzer, WV18.6 mi · 593 people · home —
South Williamson questions
Is South Williamson, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Williamson scores better for retirees than 70% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 65%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in South Williamson?
The median owner-occupied home in South Williamson is valued at $169,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,484, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $723 a month.
What is the weather like in South Williamson?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13.1 inches of snow.
Does South Williamson get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of South Williamson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 20, 1998. 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)