The Town FilesFrankfort, Kentucky
City in Franklin County · population 28,602 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,700
- Household income
- $53,073
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.3
Frankfort is a city of 28,602 people in Franklin County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $183,700, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for young professionals than 86% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 83% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 83% of Kentucky towns.
How Frankfort 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 Frankfort is worth $183,700, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $53,073, which is more affordable than 27% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $944 a month. 48.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Frankfort | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,700 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $944 | $837 |
| Median household income | $53,073 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Frankfort
| People | Frankfort | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Frankfort
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frankfort since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 6.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 19, 2022.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 27 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 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 34,824 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,163 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Frankfort itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Frankfort
19 public schools with 7,110 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County High School | 9-12 | 968 | 17.6 |
| Western Hills High School | 9-12 | 855 | 19.0 |
| Elkhorn Middle School | 6-8 | 720 | 16.0 |
| Bondurant Middle School | 6-8 | 599 | 13.9 |
| Second Street School | K-8 | 585 | 14.6 |
| Collins Lane | PK-5 | 536 | 15.8 |
| Peaks Mill Elementary | 1-5 | 430 | 14.3 |
| Hearn Elementary | 1-5 | 428 | 13.8 |
| Bridgeport Elementary School | PK-5 | 418 | 14.4 |
| Elkhorn Elementary School | 1-5 | 400 | 14.3 |
| Westridge Elementary | PK-5 | 358 | 12.3 |
| Early Learning Village | PK-K | 358 | 14.9 |
Towns near Frankfort
- Lawrenceburg, KY11.3 mi · 11,728 people · home $201,100
- Versailles, KY12.7 mi · 10,347 people · home $286,100
- Georgetown, KY18.5 mi · 37,086 people · home $265,400
- Shelbyville, KY20.0 mi · 17,282 people · home $257,100
- Eminence, KY20.5 mi · 2,705 people · home $192,600
- Wilmore, KY24.5 mi · 5,999 people · home $248,900
- Lexington-Fayette, KY24.6 mi · 322,570 people · home $293,500
- Simpsonville, KY26.2 mi · 2,990 people · home $270,800
Frankfort questions
Is Frankfort, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Frankfort scores better for retirees than 27% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 12%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Frankfort?
The median owner-occupied home in Frankfort is valued at $183,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,073, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $944 a month.
What is the weather like in Frankfort?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Frankfort get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frankfort 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)