What are the schools like in Berea, KY?

Berea is served primarily by Berea Independent. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Berea?

The median household income in Berea, KY is $54,481 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Berea, KY?

Berea has an average high temperature of 45.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Berea, KY affordable or expensive?

Berea's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Berea is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $167,200 and the median rent is $779 per month.

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

Berea has a violent crime rate of 86.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 849.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Berea, KY a Good Place to Live?

Berea is a small city of 15,404 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $54,481 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

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

All Berea 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: 90.6

Berea's overall cost of living index is 90.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Berea costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Berea, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$167,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$779	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,481	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Berea's violent crime rate is 86.8 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

86.8 /100k

Property Crime

849.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Berea is served primarily by Berea Independent. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Berea, KY	National Avg
School District	Berea Independent	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Berea sees average highs of 45.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 48.1 inches of annual precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Berea, KY
Average High — January	45.3°F
Average High — July	86.8°F
Annual Precipitation	48.1"
Annual Snowfall	1.3"

Demographics

Metric	Berea, KY	National Avg
Population	15,404	—
Median Age	32.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	20.9%	22.2%
65 and over	13.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Richmond, KY 10 mi Brodhead, KY 14 mi Crab Orchard, KY 15 mi Lancaster, KY 16 mi Mount Vernon, KY 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Berea

Berea, KY is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

40403 40404 40461

Berea vs Other Cities

Berea, KY vs Richmond, KY Berea, KY vs Brodhead, KY Berea, KY vs Crab Orchard, KY Berea, KY vs Lancaster, KY Berea, KY vs Mount Vernon, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berea, KY affordable or expensive?

Berea's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Berea roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $167,200 and median rent is $779/month.

What is the crime rate in Berea, KY?

Berea's violent crime rate is 86.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 849.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Berea?

Public schools in Berea are operated by Berea Independent. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Berea, KY a good place to live?

Berea, KY has a population of 15,404, a median household income of $54,481, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. 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 Berea?

Berea averages 45.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.1 inches with about 1.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Berea?

Berea, KY is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 40403, 40404, 40461.

What is the population of Berea?

The population of Berea, Kentucky is 15,404 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Berea?

Key numbers for living in Berea: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $167,200, median household income $54,481, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Berea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.