The Town FilesCovington, Kentucky
City in Kenton County · population 40,961 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,300
- Household income
- $61,166
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 37.6
Covington is a city of 40,961 people in Kenton County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $187,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better transit than 99% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 97% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 94% of Kentucky towns.
How Covington 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 Covington is worth $187,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $61,166, which is more affordable than 47% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,006 a month. 51.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Covington | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,006 | $837 |
| Median household income | $61,166 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 51.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Covington
| People | Covington | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 88.6% |
Weather in Covington
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Covington since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 229 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 102 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Kenton County since 1996
Kenton County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4497: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Kenton County
Kenton County had 74,672 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,985 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Covington itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Covington
16 public schools with 5,025 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes High School | 9-12 | 898 | 15.0 |
| Holmes Middle School | 6-8 | 613 | 14.6 |
| Taylor Mill Elementary School | PK-5 | 506 | 15.3 |
| Ft Wright Elementary School | PK-5 | 485 | 14.3 |
| Sixth District Elementary School | K-5 | 477 | 15.9 |
| Ryland Heights Elementary School | PK-5 | 449 | 15.0 |
| Glenn O Swing Elementary | K-5 | 406 | 13.1 |
| John G Carlisle Elementary | K-5 | 314 | 13.1 |
| Ninth District Elementary | K-5 | 313 | 11.6 |
| Latonia Elementary School | K-5 | 266 | 13.3 |
| Biggs Early Childhood Education Ctr | PK-PK | 246 | 22.4 |
| Transformational Learning Center | K-12 | 40 | 5.7 |
Towns near Covington
- Fort Wright, KY1.1 mi · 5,851 people · home $328,900
- Fort Mitchell, KY2.1 mi · 8,702 people · home $357,100
- Wilder, KY2.1 mi · 3,176 people · home $159,900
- Taylor Mill, KY2.1 mi · 6,873 people · home $241,000
- Park Hills, KY2.3 mi · 3,162 people · home $282,100
- Lakeside Park, KY2.5 mi · 2,841 people · home $360,400
- Crestview Hills, KY2.8 mi · 3,246 people · home $279,800
- Edgewood, KY2.8 mi · 8,435 people · home $312,200
Covington questions
Is Covington, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Covington scores better for retirees than 9% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 6%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Covington?
The median owner-occupied home in Covington is valued at $187,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,166, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,006 a month.
What is the weather like in Covington?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Covington get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Covington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 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)