What are the schools like in Paris, KY?

Paris is served primarily by Bourbon County. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Paris?

The median household income in Paris, KY is $46,752 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Paris, KY?

Paris has an average high temperature of 41.2°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Paris, KY affordable or expensive?

Paris's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paris is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $158,700 and the median rent is $739 per month.

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

Paris has a violent crime rate of 129.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 805.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paris, KY a Good Place to Live?

Paris is a small city of 10,143 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $46,752 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

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

All Paris 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: 93.1

Paris's overall cost of living index is 93.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paris costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Paris, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$158,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$739	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,752	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Paris's violent crime rate is 129.3 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

129.3 /100k

Property Crime

805.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Paris is served primarily by Bourbon County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paris, KY	National Avg
School District	Bourbon County	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paris sees average highs of 41.2°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 51.5 inches of annual precipitation and 8.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paris, KY
Average High — January	41.2°F
Average High — July	86.7°F
Annual Precipitation	51.5"
Annual Snowfall	8.8"

Demographics

Metric	Paris, KY	National Avg
Population	10,143	—
Median Age	36.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.0%	22.2%
65 and over	16.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Middletown, KY 10 mi Millersburg, KY 10 mi Cynthiana, KY 13 mi Winchester, KY 14 mi Georgetown, KY 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Paris

Paris, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

40361

Paris vs Other Cities

Paris, KY vs North Middletown, KY Paris, KY vs Millersburg, KY Paris, KY vs Cynthiana, KY Paris, KY vs Winchester, KY Paris, KY vs Georgetown, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paris, KY affordable or expensive?

Paris's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paris roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $158,700 and median rent is $739/month.

What is the crime rate in Paris, KY?

Paris's violent crime rate is 129.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 805.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paris?

Public schools in Paris are operated by Bourbon County. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 20.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paris, KY a good place to live?

Paris, KY has a population of 10,143, a median household income of $46,752, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. 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 Paris?

Paris averages 41.2°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.5 inches with about 8.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paris?

Paris, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 40361.

What is the population of Paris?

The population of Paris, Kentucky is 10,143 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paris?

Key numbers for living in Paris: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $158,700, median household income $46,752, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paris side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.