The Town FilesStearns, Kentucky
Community in McCreary County · population 1,365 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,700
- Household income
- $55,931
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.8
Stearns is a community of 1,365 people in McCreary County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $160,700, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 73% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Kentucky towns.
How Stearns 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 Stearns is worth $160,700, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $55,931, which is more affordable than 57% of Kentucky towns. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stearns | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,700 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | — | $837 |
| Median household income | $55,931 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Stearns
| People | Stearns | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Stearns
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 56.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stearns since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in McCreary County since 1996
McCreary County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in McCreary County
McCreary County had 2,873 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,870 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Stearns itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Stearns
2 public schools with 1,324 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary Central High School | 9-12 | 718 | 14.1 |
| McCreary County Middle School | 6-8 | 606 | 15.5 |
Towns near Stearns
- Whitley City, KY1.9 mi · 968 people · home $116,700
- Pine Knot, KY2.9 mi · 1,380 people · home —
- Winfield, TN9.3 mi · 947 people · home $100,700
- Oneida, TN12.6 mi · 3,787 people · home $170,600
- Williamsburg, KY17.4 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- Helenwood, TN18.6 mi · 635 people · home —
- Huntsville, TN19.3 mi · 1,270 people · home $201,100
- Jellico, TN21.7 mi · 2,154 people · home $127,300
Stearns questions
Is Stearns, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stearns scores better for retirees than 22% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 39%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Stearns?
The median owner-occupied home in Stearns is valued at $160,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,931, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Stearns?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.1 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Stearns get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stearns since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)