Crab Orchard is a small town of 796 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $27,721
and a 14.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Crab Orchard stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Crab Orchard is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Crab Orchard 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: 84.8
Crab Orchard's overall cost of living index is 84.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Crab Orchard costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Crab Orchard, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$83,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$577
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$27,721
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Crab Orchard's violent crime rate is 28.5 per 100,000 residents
— 92% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
28.5 /100k
Property Crime
248.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Crab Orchard is served primarily by Lincoln County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Crab Orchard, KY
National Avg
School District
Lincoln County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
3.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Crab Orchard sees average highs of 44.6°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 50.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.4 inches of snow per year.
Crab Orchard's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Crab Orchard roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $83,800 and median rent is $577/month.
Crab Orchard's violent crime rate is 28.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 248.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Crab Orchard are operated by Lincoln County.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 3.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Crab Orchard, KY has a population of 796, a median household income of $27,721, and an unemployment rate of 14.5%.
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.
Crab Orchard averages 44.6°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.6 inches
with about 7.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Crab Orchard, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 40419.
The population of Crab Orchard, Kentucky is 796 with a median age of 38.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Crab Orchard: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $83,800, median household income $27,721, crime index 9 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Crab Orchard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.