The Town FilesWilder, Kentucky
City in Campbell County · population 3,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,900
- Household income
- $70,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.6
Wilder is a city of 3,176 people in Campbell County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $159,900, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 96% of Kentucky towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Kentucky
- #12 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kentucky
- #24 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Kentucky
- #43 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #45 in The 50 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers in America
How Wilder 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 Wilder is worth $159,900, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $70,893, which is more affordable than 83% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,432 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilder | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,432 | $837 |
| Median household income | $70,893 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Wilder
| People | Wilder | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.0% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Wilder
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilder since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Campbell County since 1996
Campbell County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4497: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Campbell County
Campbell County had 31,709 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,401 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Wilder itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Wilder
- Highland Heights, KY1.4 mi · 6,662 people · home $169,700
- Southgate, KY1.7 mi · 3,648 people · home $190,800
- Covington, KY2.1 mi · 40,961 people · home $187,300
- Taylor Mill, KY2.4 mi · 6,873 people · home $241,000
- Fort Wright, KY2.9 mi · 5,851 people · home $328,900
- Cold Spring, KY3.1 mi · 6,216 people · home $253,600
- Newport, KY3.1 mi · 14,150 people · home $217,600
- Fort Thomas, KY3.1 mi · 17,438 people · home $335,000
Wilder questions
Is Wilder, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilder scores better for retirees than 68% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 11%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Wilder?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilder is valued at $159,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,893, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,432 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilder?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.5 inches of snow.
Does Wilder get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilder 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)