Melbourne is a small town of 547 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $74,375
and a 6.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Melbourne stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Melbourne is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Melbourne 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
Melbourne's overall cost of living index is 94.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Melbourne costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Melbourne, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$148,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
91.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$74,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Melbourne's violent crime rate is 110.1 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
110.1 /100k
Property Crime
1178.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Melbourne, 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
37.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Melbourne sees average highs of 40.6°F in January
and 86.6°F in July,
with 45.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.0 inches of snow per year.
Melbourne's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Melbourne roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $148,800 and median rent is $625/month.
Melbourne's violent crime rate is 110.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1178.6 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.
Melbourne, KY has a population of 547, a median household income of $74,375, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
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.
Melbourne averages 40.6°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.5 inches
with about 16.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Melbourne, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 41059.
The population of Melbourne, Kentucky is 547 with a median age of 54.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Melbourne: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $148,800, median household income $74,375, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Melbourne side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
