Sonora is a small town of 688 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $52,750
and a 2.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sonora stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sonora is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sonora 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: 89.4
Sonora's overall cost of living index is 89.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sonora costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sonora, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$164,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$695
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Sonora's violent crime rate is 90.1 per 100,000 residents
— 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
90.1 /100k
Property Crime
777.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sonora is served primarily by Hardin County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sonora, KY
National Avg
School District
Hardin County
—
Elementary Schools
13
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sonora sees average highs of 44.2°F in January
and 86.4°F in July,
with 52.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Sonora's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sonora roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $164,200 and median rent is $695/month.
Sonora's violent crime rate is 90.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 777.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sonora are operated by Hardin County.
The district has 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sonora, KY has a population of 688, a median household income of $52,750, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%.
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.
Sonora averages 44.2°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.9 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sonora, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42776.
The population of Sonora, Kentucky is 688 with a median age of 31.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sonora: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $164,200, median household income $52,750, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sonora side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
