The Town FilesElizabethtown, Kentucky
City in Hardin County · population 31,394 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,900
- Household income
- $60,760
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 35.7
Elizabethtown is a city of 31,394 people in Hardin County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $245,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 88% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Kentucky towns.
How Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown is worth $245,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $60,760, which is more affordable than 15% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $909 a month. 49.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabethtown | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $909 | $837 |
| Median household income | $60,760 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 49.3% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Elizabethtown
| People | Elizabethtown | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Elizabethtown
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 54.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 95 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Hardin County since 1996
Hardin County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hardin County
Hardin County had 48,897 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,787 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Elizabethtown itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Elizabethtown
18 public schools with 7,497 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| G C Burkhead Elementary School | PK-5 | 832 | 16.0 |
| John Hardin High School | 9-12 | 806 | 15.2 |
| Elizabethtown High School | 9-12 | 799 | 17.0 |
| East Hardin Middle School | 6-8 | 782 | 17.8 |
| Bluegrass Middle School | 6-8 | 591 | 19.1 |
| Heartland Elementary School | PK-5 | 558 | 15.1 |
| Lincoln Trail Elementary School | PK-5 | 549 | 14.8 |
| New Highland Elementary School | PK-5 | 533 | 14.4 |
| Talton K Stone Middle School | 6-8 | 524 | 15.0 |
| Morningside Elementary School | 1-5 | 454 | 13.8 |
| Helmwood Heights Elementary School | 1-5 | 424 | 14.1 |
| College View Campus | K-12 | 346 | 11.2 |
Towns near Elizabethtown
- Rineyville, KY5.4 mi · 3,039 people · home $257,100
- Radcliff, KY8.6 mi · 23,042 people · home $169,600
- Vine Grove, KY9.4 mi · 6,559 people · home $235,400
- Hodgenville, KY12.7 mi · 3,235 people · home $151,400
- Fort Knox, KY13.8 mi · 7,742 people · home —
- Shepherdsville, KY21.5 mi · 14,201 people · home $222,100
- Bardstown, KY24.5 mi · 13,567 people · home $203,500
- Brandenburg, KY26.1 mi · 2,894 people · home $214,700
Elizabethtown questions
Is Elizabethtown, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabethtown scores better for retirees than 41% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 13%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Elizabethtown?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabethtown is valued at $245,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,760, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $909 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabethtown?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.4 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Elizabethtown get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)