The Town FilesCynthiana, Kentucky
City in Harrison County · population 6,333 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,500
- Household income
- $54,647
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 36.9
Cynthiana is a city of 6,333 people in Harrison County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $172,500, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450).
How Cynthiana 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 Cynthiana is worth $172,500, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $54,647, which is more affordable than 41% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 48.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cynthiana | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $770 | $837 |
| Median household income | $54,647 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cynthiana
| People | Cynthiana | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Cynthiana
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.0 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cynthiana since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1974 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 31, 2019.
Severe weather in Harrison County since 1996
Harrison 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 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| November 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4848: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Harrison County
Harrison County had 5,310 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,516 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Cynthiana itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Cynthiana
8 public schools with 2,940 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County High School | 9-12 | 869 | 19.8 |
| Harrison County Middle School | 6-8 | 614 | 17.5 |
| Eastside Elementary School | PK-5 | 392 | 15.7 |
| Southside Elementary School | PK-5 | 391 | 18.6 |
| Westside Elementary School | PK-5 | 359 | 17.1 |
| Northside Elementary School | PK-5 | 297 | 16.5 |
| Harrison County Learning Center | 6-12 | 18 | 9.0 |
| Harrison County Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Cynthiana
- Paris, KY12.7 mi · 10,171 people · home $186,300
- Georgetown, KY15.2 mi · 37,086 people · home $265,400
- Williamstown, KY23.0 mi · 3,894 people · home $209,800
- Lexington-Fayette, KY25.1 mi · 322,570 people · home $293,500
- Winchester, KY27.0 mi · 19,134 people · home $188,300
- Mount Sterling, KY29.1 mi · 7,558 people · home $187,600
Cynthiana questions
Is Cynthiana, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cynthiana scores better for retirees than 69% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 57%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Cynthiana?
The median owner-occupied home in Cynthiana is valued at $172,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,647, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Cynthiana?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 16.0 inches of snow.
Does Cynthiana get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cynthiana since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)