The Town FilesBenton, Kentucky
City in Marshall County · population 4,756 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,000
- Household income
- $66,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 43.2
Benton is a city of 4,756 people in Marshall County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $157,000, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks quieter than 93% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 84% of Kentucky towns.
- #2 in The 17 Quietest Small Towns in Kentucky
- #2 in 22 Small Towns in Kentucky With the Mildest Winters
- #10 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Kentucky
- #12 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Kentucky
- #37 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #37 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $157,000, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $66,827, which is more affordable than 83% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $787 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $787 | $837 |
| Median household income | $66,827 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 55.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.0 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 24. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 30 deaths and 318 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 29 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 |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Marshall County
Marshall County had 11,710 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,678 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Benton
10 public schools with 3,605 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County High School | 9-12 | 1,216 | 19.0 |
| Benton Elementary School | PK-5 | 536 | 16.2 |
| Central Elementary School | PK-5 | 459 | 15.3 |
| South Marshall Middle | 6-8 | 457 | 15.8 |
| Sharpe Elementary School | PK-5 | 311 | 14.8 |
| South Marshall Elementary School | PK-5 | 264 | 13.2 |
| Jonathan Elementary School | PK-5 | 244 | 13.6 |
| MC Academy | 6-12 | 95 | 47.5 |
| Purchase Youth Village | 1-12 | 23 | 11.5 |
| Marshall County Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Benton
- Calvert City, KY13.8 mi · 2,514 people · home $165,700
- Reidland, KY14.3 mi · 4,526 people · home $228,000
- Murray, KY16.3 mi · 17,307 people · home $195,000
- Mayfield, KY17.4 mi · 10,017 people · home $112,500
- Farley, KY17.7 mi · 4,374 people · home $86,300
- Hendron, KY20.2 mi · 4,774 people · home $213,900
- Paducah, KY21.9 mi · 27,137 people · home $165,300
- Massac, KY22.0 mi · 4,635 people · home $239,400
Benton questions
Is Benton, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 84% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 93%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $157,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,827, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $787 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.8 inches of precipitation a year and 4.0 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)