The Town FilesGrayson, Kentucky
City in Carter County · population 3,834 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,900
- Household income
- $27,542
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 30.3
Grayson is a city of 3,834 people in Carter County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $136,900, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450).
How Grayson 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 Grayson is worth $136,900, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $27,542, which is more affordable than 4% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 39.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grayson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $745 | $837 |
| Median household income | $27,542 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 39.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Grayson
| People | Grayson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in Grayson
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grayson since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 11, 2008 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 20, 2017.
Severe weather in Carter County since 1996
Carter County has been included in 37 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 Carter County
Carter County had 5,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,562 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Grayson itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Grayson
5 public schools with 2,293 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carter County High School | 9-12 | 703 | 18.5 |
| Prichard Elementary School | PK-5 | 623 | 15.6 |
| East Carter Middle School | 6-8 | 490 | 18.1 |
| Heritage Elementary School | PK-5 | 353 | 16.0 |
| Carter City Elementary School | PK-5 | 124 | 15.5 |
Towns near Grayson
- Westwood, KY17.1 mi · 4,387 people · home $92,200
- Flatwoods, KY17.4 mi · 7,325 people · home $114,600
- Russell, KY17.9 mi · 3,744 people · home $211,900
- Ashland, KY18.0 mi · 21,625 people · home $125,000
- Ironton, OH19.6 mi · 10,571 people · home $106,700
- Kenova, WV19.7 mi · 3,033 people · home $109,000
- South Point, OH20.3 mi · 3,836 people · home $184,000
- Louisa, KY23.2 mi · 2,679 people · home $120,500
Grayson questions
Is Grayson, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grayson scores better for retirees than 31% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 36%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.3).
How much does a house cost in Grayson?
The median owner-occupied home in Grayson is valued at $136,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,542, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Grayson?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 18.1 inches of snow.
Does Grayson get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grayson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 11, 2008. 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)