The Town FilesVan Lear, Kentucky
Community in Johnson County · population 893 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,100
- Household income
- $35,347
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 43.7
Van Lear is a community of 893 people in Johnson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $81,100, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Kentucky towns, better for families than 88% of Kentucky towns.
How Van Lear 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 Van Lear is worth $81,100, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $35,347, which is more affordable than 83% of Kentucky towns. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Lear | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,100 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | — | $837 |
| Median household income | $35,347 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.9% | — |
Who lives in Van Lear
| People | Van Lear | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Van Lear
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 5.9 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 Van Lear 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 0.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 48 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 Johnson County
Johnson County had 5,352 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,878 a year. Unemployment was 6.6% in 2023; in Van Lear itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Van Lear
- West Van Lear, KY2.2 mi · 768 people · home $135,300
- Auxier, KY3.1 mi · 715 people · home $110,600
- Paintsville, KY4.4 mi · 4,312 people · home $116,100
- Prestonsburg, KY6.6 mi · 3,681 people · home $161,300
- Inez, KY13.0 mi · 546 people · home $70,900
- Martin, KY14.5 mi · 513 people · home —
- Betsy Layne, KY16.9 mi · 651 people · home —
- Salyersville, KY17.4 mi · 1,591 people · home $77,400
Van Lear questions
Is Van Lear, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Lear scores better for retirees than 69% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 41%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Van Lear?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Lear is valued at $81,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,347, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Van Lear?
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 5.9 inches of snow.
Does Van Lear get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Lear 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)