Central City KY 2022a · Antony-22 / CC BY-SA 4.0Saint Joseph's Catholic Church (Central City, Kentucky) - exterior 2 · Nheyob / CC BY-SA 3.0Central City KY 2022b · Antony-22 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Central City is a small town of 5,740 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $52,184
and a 5.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Central City 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 Central City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Central City 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: 89.2
Central City's overall cost of living index is 89.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Central City costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Central City, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$147,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$711
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,184
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Central City's violent crime rate is 86.1 per 100,000 residents
— 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
86.1 /100k
Property Crime
981.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Central City is served primarily by Muhlenberg County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Central City, KY
National Avg
School District
Muhlenberg County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Central City sees average highs of 43.6°F in January
and 89.0°F in July,
with 47.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.4 inches of snow per year.
Central City's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Central City roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $147,500 and median rent is $711/month.
Central City's violent crime rate is 86.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 981.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Central City are operated by Muhlenberg County.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Central City, KY has a population of 5,740, a median household income of $52,184, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%.
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.
Central City averages 43.6°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.4 inches
with about 4.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Central City, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42330.
The population of Central City, Kentucky is 5,740 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Central City: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $147,500, median household income $52,184, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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