The Town FilesBeaver Dam, Kentucky
City in Ohio County · population 3,531 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,900
- Household income
- $53,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.9
Beaver Dam is a city of 3,531 people in Ohio County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $167,900, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Kentucky towns.
How Beaver Dam 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 Beaver Dam is worth $167,900, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $53,944, which is more affordable than 47% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $696 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beaver Dam | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $696 | $837 |
| Median household income | $53,944 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Beaver Dam
| People | Beaver Dam | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Beaver Dam
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 24.1°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beaver Dam since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 10, 2021 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Ohio County since 1996
Ohio County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Ohio County
Ohio County had 7,387 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,414 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Beaver Dam itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Public schools in Beaver Dam
2 public schools with 842 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam Elementary School | PK-6 | 564 | 16.6 |
| Southern Elementary School | PK-6 | 278 | 13.9 |
Towns near Beaver Dam
- Hartford, KY3.5 mi · 2,668 people · home $106,900
- Central City, KY15.9 mi · 5,819 people · home $143,600
- Morgantown, KY16.0 mi · 2,505 people · home $114,000
- Greenville, KY21.4 mi · 4,492 people · home $116,400
- Owensboro, KY27.8 mi · 60,183 people · home $178,900
Beaver Dam questions
Is Beaver Dam, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beaver Dam scores better for retirees than 64% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 48%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Beaver Dam?
The median owner-occupied home in Beaver Dam is valued at $167,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,944, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $696 a month.
What is the weather like in Beaver Dam?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 24.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 5.4 inches of snow.
Does Beaver Dam get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beaver Dam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 10, 2021. 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)