The Town FilesBardstown, Kentucky
City in Nelson County · population 13,567 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,500
- Household income
- $51,381
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.1
Bardstown is a city of 13,567 people in Nelson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $203,500, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more vibrant than 76% of Kentucky towns.
How Bardstown ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bardstown is worth $203,500, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $51,381, which is more affordable than 15% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $977 a month. 61.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bardstown | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $977 | $837 |
| Median household income | $51,381 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 61.1% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Bardstown
| People | Bardstown | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Bardstown
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bardstown since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 20, 2018.
Severe weather in Nelson County since 1996
Nelson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Nelson County
Nelson County had 18,445 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,670 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Bardstown itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Bardstown
15 public schools with 5,904 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bardstown Elementary School | 2-5 | 841 | 14.8 |
| Nelson County High School | 9-12 | 783 | 17.0 |
| Bardstown High School | 9-12 | 670 | 17.6 |
| Thomas Nelson High School | 9-12 | 643 | 22.2 |
| Foster Heights Elementary School | K-5 | 624 | 13.9 |
| Bardstown Middle School | 6-8 | 557 | 17.4 |
| Coxs Creek Elementary School | K-5 | 478 | 15.9 |
| Bardstown Primary School | K-1 | 406 | 15.0 |
| Old Kentucky Home Middle School | 6-8 | 391 | 17.8 |
| Bardstown Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 267 | 24.3 |
| Nelson County Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 155 | 17.2 |
| The Academy at Horizons | K-12 | 52 | 8.7 |
Towns near Bardstown
- Springfield, KY15.5 mi · 2,846 people · home $168,600
- Mount Washington, KY16.5 mi · 18,090 people · home $268,200
- Shepherdsville, KY17.6 mi · 14,201 people · home $222,100
- Lebanon, KY20.2 mi · 6,274 people · home $149,700
- Pioneer Village, KY20.5 mi · 2,671 people · home $240,500
- Hillview, KY21.4 mi · 8,622 people · home $186,300
- Hodgenville, KY23.2 mi · 3,235 people · home $151,400
- Elizabethtown, KY24.5 mi · 31,394 people · home $245,900
Bardstown questions
Is Bardstown, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bardstown scores better for retirees than 21% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 27%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Bardstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Bardstown is valued at $203,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,381, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $977 a month.
What is the weather like in Bardstown?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 11.9 inches of snow.
Does Bardstown get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bardstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)