The Town FilesLouisa, Kentucky
City in Lawrence County · population 2,679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,500
- Household income
- $40,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 33.2
Louisa is a city of 2,679 people in Lawrence County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $120,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 89% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 72% of Kentucky towns.
How Louisa 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 Louisa is worth $120,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $40,000, which is more affordable than 53% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $488 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Louisa | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $488 | $837 |
| Median household income | $40,000 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Louisa
| People | Louisa | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Louisa
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Louisa since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 2, 2012 about 6.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 19, 1967.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 49 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 4,232 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,742 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Louisa itself the ACS puts it at 11.1%.
Public schools in Louisa
5 public schools with 2,206 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County High School | 9-12 | 754 | 13.7 |
| Louisa East Elementary School | 2-5 | 484 | 16.1 |
| Louisa Middle School | 6-8 | 432 | 16.0 |
| Louisa West Elementary School | PK-1 | 314 | 13.1 |
| Fallsburg Elementary School | PK-8 | 222 | 11.1 |
Towns near Louisa
- Kenova, WV20.2 mi · 3,033 people · home $109,000
- South Point, OH21.5 mi · 3,836 people · home $184,000
- Paintsville, KY22.7 mi · 4,312 people · home $116,100
- Huntington, WV22.9 mi · 46,842 people · home $127,200
- Grayson, KY23.2 mi · 3,834 people · home $136,900
- Ashland, KY24.1 mi · 21,625 people · home $125,000
- Westwood, KY25.6 mi · 4,387 people · home $92,200
- Pea Ridge, WV26.6 mi · 6,602 people · home $188,500
Louisa questions
Is Louisa, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Louisa scores better for retirees than 42% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 14%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Louisa?
The median owner-occupied home in Louisa is valued at $120,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,000, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $488 a month.
What is the weather like in Louisa?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14.5 inches of snow.
Does Louisa get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Louisa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 2, 2012. 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)