The Town FilesCorbin, Kentucky
City in Whitley County · population 7,856 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $166,000
- Household income
- $51,065
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 37.6
Corbin is a city of 7,856 people in Whitley County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $166,000, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better transit than 78% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 76% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 75% of Kentucky towns.
How Corbin 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 Corbin is worth $166,000, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $51,065, which is more affordable than 37% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 53.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Corbin | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $733 | $837 |
| Median household income | $51,065 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 53.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Corbin
| People | Corbin | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Corbin
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 26.7°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corbin since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 17. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 28, 1959.
Severe weather in Whitley County since 1996
Whitley County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 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 Whitley County
Whitley County had 14,351 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,563 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Corbin itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Corbin
15 public schools with 5,238 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corbin High School | 9-12 | 813 | 15.9 |
| Corbin Primary | K-3 | 800 | 15.4 |
| Oak Grove Elementary School | PK-6 | 667 | 17.1 |
| Corbin Middle School | 6-8 | 657 | 16.8 |
| Hunter Hills Elementary School | PK-5 | 603 | 13.7 |
| Lynn Camp Elementary School | PK-5 | 524 | 14.6 |
| Lynn Camp Middle High School | 6-12 | 437 | 11.8 |
| CORBIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4-5 | 377 | 15.7 |
| Corbin School of Innovation | K-12 | 174 | 19.3 |
| Corbin Preschool | PK-PK | 116 | 29.0 |
| Corbin Educational Center | 4-12 | 34 | 4.9 |
| Elementary Homebound | K-8 | 22 | — |
Towns near Corbin
- Barbourville, KY12.9 mi · 3,222 people · home $182,400
- London, KY12.9 mi · 7,572 people · home $170,200
- Williamsburg, KY13.8 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- Somerset, KY29.8 mi · 11,924 people · home $144,000
Corbin questions
Is Corbin, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Corbin scores better for retirees than 45% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 23%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Corbin?
The median owner-occupied home in Corbin is valued at $166,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,065, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Corbin?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 26.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 8.5 inches of snow.
Does Corbin get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corbin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. 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)