What are the schools like in Benton, KY?

Benton is served primarily by Marshall County. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Benton?

The median household income in Benton, KY is $61,443 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.8%.

What is the weather like in Benton, KY?

Benton has an average high temperature of 45.5°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.5 inches.

Benton, KY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Benton, KY affordable or expensive?

Benton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Benton is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $157,900 and the median rent is $774 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Benton, KY?

Benton has a violent crime rate of 83.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1322.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Benton, KY a Good Place to Live?

Benton is a small town of 4,753 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $61,443 and a 1.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Benton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Benton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Benton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.2

Benton's overall cost of living index is 90.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Benton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Benton, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$157,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$774	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,443	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Benton's violent crime rate is 83.9 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

83.9 /100k

Property Crime

1322.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Benton is served primarily by Marshall County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Benton, KY	National Avg
School District	Marshall County	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Benton sees average highs of 45.5°F in January and 89.6°F in July, with 55.8 inches of annual precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Benton, KY
Average High — January	45.5°F
Average High — July	89.6°F
Annual Precipitation	55.8"
Annual Snowfall	6.5"

Demographics

Metric	Benton, KY	National Avg
Population	4,753	—
Median Age	44.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	16.2%	22.2%
65 and over	23.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hardin, KY 7 mi Dexter, KY 8 mi Symsonia, KY 10 mi Gilbertsville, KY 13 mi Grand Rivers, KY 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Benton

Benton, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

42025

Benton vs Other Cities

Benton, KY vs Hardin, KY Benton, KY vs Dexter, KY Benton, KY vs Symsonia, KY Benton, KY vs Gilbertsville, KY Benton, KY vs Grand Rivers, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benton, KY affordable or expensive?

Benton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Benton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $157,900 and median rent is $774/month.

What is the crime rate in Benton, KY?

Benton's violent crime rate is 83.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1322.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Benton?

Public schools in Benton are operated by Marshall County. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Benton, KY a good place to live?

Benton, KY has a population of 4,753, a median household income of $61,443, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Benton?

Benton averages 45.5°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.8 inches with about 6.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Benton?

Benton, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42025.

What is the population of Benton?

The population of Benton, Kentucky is 4,753 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Benton?

Key numbers for living in Benton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $157,900, median household income $61,443, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Benton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.