Median Income
$27,199
household / year
Median Home Value
$68,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$588
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100

Is South Shore, KY a Good Place to Live?

South Shore is a small town of 1,375 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $27,199 and a 27.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: South Shore stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South Shore is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South Shore 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: 88.4

South Shore's overall cost of living index is 88.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Shore costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric South Shore, KY National Avg
Median Home Value $68,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $588 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 54.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $27,199 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South Shore's violent crime rate is 51.3 per 100,000 residents — 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
51.3 /100k
Property Crime
210.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

South Shore is served primarily by Greenup County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric South Shore, KY National Avg
School District Greenup County —
Elementary Schools 4 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 8.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 85.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

South Shore sees average highs of 41.3°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation and 6.6 inches of snow per year.

MetricSouth Shore, KY
Average High — January41.3°F
Average High — July86.7°F
Annual Precipitation45.1"
Annual Snowfall6.6"

Demographics

MetricSouth Shore, KYNational Avg
Population1,375—
Median Age41.238.9
Unemployment Rate27.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time16.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)96.8%59.3%
Black or African American0.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1819.6%22.2%
65 and over21.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in South Shore

South Shore, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

South Shore vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

South Shore's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes South Shore roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $68,900 and median rent is $588/month.
South Shore's violent crime rate is 51.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 210.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in South Shore are operated by Greenup County. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 8.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
South Shore, KY has a population of 1,375, a median household income of $27,199, and an unemployment rate of 27.4%. 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.
South Shore averages 41.3°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches with about 6.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
South Shore, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 41175.
The population of South Shore, Kentucky is 1,375 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in South Shore: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $68,900, median household income $27,199, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Shore side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.