The Town FilesElsmere, Kentucky
City in Kenton County · population 9,159 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,900
- Household income
- $60,503
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 30.6
Elsmere is a city of 9,159 people in Kenton County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $171,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 91% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 86% of Kentucky towns.
How Elsmere 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 Elsmere is worth $171,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $60,503, which is more affordable than 64% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,351 a month. 75.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elsmere | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,351 | $837 |
| Median household income | $60,503 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 75.1% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elsmere
| People | Elsmere | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Elsmere
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsmere 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 9.5 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 90 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
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 Elsmere itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Elsmere
1 public school with 280 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howell Elementary School | K-5 | 280 | 14.0 |
Towns near Elsmere
- Edgewood, KY2.5 mi · 8,435 people · home $312,200
- Florence, KY2.5 mi · 31,946 people · home $210,700
- Crestview Hills, KY2.7 mi · 3,246 people · home $279,800
- Erlanger, KY3.2 mi · 19,611 people · home $209,000
- Lakeside Park, KY3.4 mi · 2,841 people · home $360,400
- Independence, KY3.9 mi · 28,676 people · home $263,700
- Oakbrook, KY4.2 mi · 9,268 people · home $260,700
- Fort Mitchell, KY4.3 mi · 8,702 people · home $357,100
Elsmere questions
Is Elsmere, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elsmere scores better for retirees than 13% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 3%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.6).
How much does a house cost in Elsmere?
The median owner-occupied home in Elsmere is valued at $171,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,503, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,351 a month.
What is the weather like in Elsmere?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Elsmere get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsmere 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)