What are the schools like in Hazard, KY?

Hazard is served primarily by Perry County. The district operates 6 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Hazard?

The median household income in Hazard, KY is $65,846 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.2%.

What is the weather like in Hazard, KY?

Hazard has an average high temperature of 43.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Hazard, KY affordable or expensive?

Hazard's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hazard is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $146,900 and the median rent is $714 per month.

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

Hazard has a violent crime rate of 61.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 779.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hazard, KY a Good Place to Live?

Hazard is a small town of 5,194 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $65,846 and a 11.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

All Hazard 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

Hazard's overall cost of living index is 89.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hazard costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hazard, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$146,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$714	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,846	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hazard's violent crime rate is 61.5 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

61.5 /100k

Property Crime

779.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hazard is served primarily by Perry County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hazard, KY	National Avg
School District	Perry County	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hazard sees average highs of 43.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July, with 53.0 inches of annual precipitation and 8.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hazard, KY
Average High — January	43.9°F
Average High — July	87.0°F
Annual Precipitation	53.0"
Annual Snowfall	8.8"

Demographics

Metric	Hazard, KY	National Avg
Population	5,194	—
Median Age	40.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	3.5%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	14.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Combs, KY 1 mi Diablock, KY 3 mi Jeff, KY 5 mi Vicco, KY 8 mi Hyden, KY 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Hazard

Hazard, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

41701

Hazard vs Other Cities

Hazard, KY vs Combs, KY Hazard, KY vs Diablock, KY Hazard, KY vs Jeff, KY Hazard, KY vs Vicco, KY Hazard, KY vs Hyden, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hazard, KY affordable or expensive?

Hazard's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hazard roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $146,900 and median rent is $714/month.

What is the crime rate in Hazard, KY?

Hazard's violent crime rate is 61.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 779.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hazard?

Public schools in Hazard are operated by Perry County. The district has 6 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hazard, KY a good place to live?

Hazard, KY has a population of 5,194, a median household income of $65,846, and an unemployment rate of 11.2%. 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 Hazard?

Hazard averages 43.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.0 inches with about 8.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hazard?

Hazard, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 41701.

What is the population of Hazard?

The population of Hazard, Kentucky is 5,194 with a median age of 40.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hazard?

Key numbers for living in Hazard: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $146,900, median household income $65,846, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hazard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.