The Town FilesWhitley City, Kentucky
Community in McCreary County · population 968 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,700
- Household income
- $33,719
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 34.6
Whitley City is a community of 968 people in McCreary County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $116,700, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 79% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 75% of Kentucky towns.
How Whitley City 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 Whitley City is worth $116,700, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $33,719, which is more affordable than 27% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $912 a month. 44.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whitley City | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,700 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $912 | $837 |
| Median household income | $33,719 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 44.9% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Whitley City
| People | Whitley City | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 4.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 44.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.6% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 51.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | — min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Whitley City
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 9.3 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
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitley City since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 3.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 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 Whitley City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Whitley City
1 public school with 561 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitley City Elementary School | PK-5 | 561 | 14.4 |
Towns near Whitley City
- Stearns, KY1.9 mi · 1,365 people · home $160,700
- Pine Knot, KY4.4 mi · 1,380 people · home —
- Winfield, TN11.1 mi · 947 people · home $100,700
- Oneida, TN14.4 mi · 3,787 people · home $170,600
- Williamsburg, KY17.2 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- Helenwood, TN20.4 mi · 635 people · home —
- Huntsville, TN21.2 mi · 1,270 people · home $201,100
- Burnside, KY21.6 mi · 694 people · home $167,300
Whitley City questions
Is Whitley City, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whitley City scores better for retirees than 19% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 42%. 4.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Whitley City?
The median owner-occupied home in Whitley City is valued at $116,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,719, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $912 a month.
What is the weather like in Whitley City?
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 9.3 inches of snow.
Does Whitley City get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitley City 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)