What are the schools like in Elsmere, KY?

Elsmere is served primarily by Erlanger-Elsmere Independent. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1.

What is the median household income in Elsmere?

The median household income in Elsmere, KY is $61,890 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Elsmere, KY?

Elsmere has an average high temperature of 39.6°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Elsmere, KY affordable or expensive?

Elsmere's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elsmere is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $150,500 and the median rent is $1,263 per month.

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

Elsmere has a violent crime rate of 98.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 831.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elsmere, KY a Good Place to Live?

Elsmere is a small town of 9,126 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $61,890 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Elsmere 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 Elsmere is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Elsmere 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: 94.1

Elsmere's overall cost of living index is 94.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elsmere costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elsmere, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$150,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,263	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,890	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elsmere's violent crime rate is 98.5 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

98.5 /100k

Property Crime

831.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elsmere is served primarily by Erlanger-Elsmere Independent. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elsmere, KY	National Avg
School District	Erlanger-Elsmere Independent	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elsmere sees average highs of 39.6°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation and 23.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elsmere, KY
Average High — January	39.6°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	45.3"
Annual Snowfall	23.3"

Demographics

Metric	Elsmere, KY	National Avg
Population	9,126	—
Median Age	30.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	2.6%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	10.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Edgewood, KY 2 mi Florence, KY 2 mi Crestview Hills, KY 3 mi Erlanger, KY 3 mi Lakeside Park, KY 3 mi

Elsmere vs Other Cities

Elsmere, KY vs Edgewood, KY Elsmere, KY vs Florence, KY Elsmere, KY vs Crestview Hills, KY Elsmere, KY vs Erlanger, KY Elsmere, KY vs Lakeside Park, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elsmere, KY affordable or expensive?

Elsmere's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elsmere roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $150,500 and median rent is $1,263/month.

What is the crime rate in Elsmere, KY?

Elsmere's violent crime rate is 98.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 831.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elsmere?

Public schools in Elsmere are operated by Erlanger-Elsmere Independent. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 25.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elsmere, KY a good place to live?

Elsmere, KY has a population of 9,126, a median household income of $61,890, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. 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 Elsmere?

Elsmere averages 39.6°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches with about 23.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Elsmere?

The population of Elsmere, Kentucky is 9,126 with a median age of 30.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elsmere?

Key numbers for living in Elsmere: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $150,500, median household income $61,890, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elsmere side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.