Dawson Springs is a small town of 2,026 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $34,615
and a 11.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dawson Springs 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:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dawson Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dawson Springs 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: 84.6
Dawson Springs's overall cost of living index is 84.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dawson Springs costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dawson Springs, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$82,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$570
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,615
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Dawson Springs's violent crime rate is 93.5 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
93.5 /100k
Property Crime
654.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dawson Springs is served primarily by Dawson Springs Independent.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dawson Springs, KY
National Avg
School District
Dawson Springs Independent
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
79.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dawson Springs sees average highs of 46.3°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 51.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.5 inches of snow per year.
Dawson Springs's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dawson Springs roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $82,600 and median rent is $570/month.
Dawson Springs's violent crime rate is 93.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 654.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dawson Springs are operated by Dawson Springs Independent.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 6.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dawson Springs, KY has a population of 2,026, a median household income of $34,615, and an unemployment rate of 11.4%.
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.
Dawson Springs averages 46.3°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.6 inches
with about 8.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dawson Springs, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42408.
The population of Dawson Springs, Kentucky is 2,026 with a median age of 44.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dawson Springs: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $82,600, median household income $34,615, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dawson Springs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
