McDowell is a small town of 516 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $33,378
and a 24.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
McDowell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether McDowell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All McDowell 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: 86.4
McDowell's overall cost of living index is 86.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in McDowell costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
McDowell, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$63,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$835
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$33,378
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
McDowell's violent crime rate is 28.1 per 100,000 residents
— 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
28.1 /100k
Property Crime
126.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
McDowell, KY
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
McDowell sees average highs of 43.5°F in January
and 85.8°F in July,
with 47.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.6 inches of snow per year.
McDowell's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes McDowell roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $63,700 and median rent is $835/month.
McDowell's violent crime rate is 28.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 126.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
McDowell, KY has a population of 516, a median household income of $33,378, and an unemployment rate of 24.0%.
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.
McDowell averages 43.5°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.6 inches
with about 3.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
McDowell, KY is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 41647, 41651.
The population of McDowell, Kentucky is 516 with a median age of 55.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in McDowell: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $63,700, median household income $33,378, crime index 7 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McDowell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.