The Town FilesCentral City, Kentucky
City in Muhlenberg County · population 5,819 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,600
- Household income
- $50,885
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 37.5
Central City is a city of 5,819 people in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $143,600, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks easier by car than 76% of Kentucky towns.
How Central City 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 Central City is worth $143,600, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $50,885, which is more affordable than 64% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $683 a month. 59.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central City | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,600 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $683 | $837 |
| Median household income | $50,885 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 59.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Central City
| People | Central City | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.7% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 88.6% |
Weather in Central City
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2016.
Severe weather in Muhlenberg County since 1996
Muhlenberg 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 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County had 8,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,582 a year. Unemployment was 6.1% in 2023; in Central City itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Central City
2 public schools with 406 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central City Elementary | PK-5 | 406 | 14.5 |
| Green River Education Center | 15-15 | — | — |
Towns near Central City
- Greenville, KY6.5 mi · 4,492 people · home $116,400
- Beaver Dam, KY15.9 mi · 3,531 people · home $167,900
- Hartford, KY17.0 mi · 2,668 people · home $106,900
- Madisonville, KY20.8 mi · 19,542 people · home $164,100
- Morgantown, KY24.2 mi · 2,505 people · home $114,000
Central City questions
Is Central City, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central City scores better for retirees than 12% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 46%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Central City?
The median owner-occupied home in Central City is valued at $143,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,885, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $683 a month.
What is the weather like in Central City?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 4.9 inches of snow.
Does Central City get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City 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)