The Town FilesMiddlesborough, Kentucky
City in Bell County · population 9,405 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,900
- Household income
- $31,106
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.1
Middlesborough is a city of 9,405 people in Bell County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $99,900, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Kentucky towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Middlesborough 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 Middlesborough is worth $99,900, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $31,106, which is more affordable than 41% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $598 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Middlesborough | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $598 | $837 |
| Median household income | $31,106 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Middlesborough
| People | Middlesborough | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Middlesborough
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 22.8°F. About 54.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Middlesborough since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 9, 1988 about 0.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 2, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 1, 1990.
Severe weather in Bell County since 1996
Bell County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| November 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4848: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Bell County
Bell County had 8,335 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,450 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Middlesborough itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Middlesborough
8 public schools with 1,696 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Creek School Center | PK-8 | 562 | 16.5 |
| Middlesboro Elementary School | PK-4 | 476 | 14.0 |
| Middlesboro High School | 9-12 | 347 | 12.4 |
| Middlesboro Middle School | 5-8 | 274 | 9.8 |
| Middlesboro Alternative School | 7-12 | 31 | 31.0 |
| Middlesboro Group Home School | 6-12 | 6 | 6.0 |
| Southeast TECH | 15-15 | — | — |
| Cumberland Tech - Southeast Campus | 15-15 | — | — |
Towns near Middlesborough
- Harrogate, TN5.0 mi · 4,400 people · home $203,900
- New Tazewell, TN13.8 mi · 2,769 people · home $183,800
- Barbourville, KY19.6 mi · 3,222 people · home $182,400
- Williamsburg, KY26.0 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- La Follette, TN27.9 mi · 7,430 people · home $138,900
Middlesborough questions
Is Middlesborough, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Middlesborough scores better for retirees than 19% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 36%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Middlesborough?
The median owner-occupied home in Middlesborough is valued at $99,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,106, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $598 a month.
What is the weather like in Middlesborough?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 22.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.7 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Middlesborough get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Middlesborough since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 9, 1988. 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)