The Town FilesMonticello, Kentucky
City in Wayne County · population 5,753 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,400
- Household income
- $44,952
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.6
Monticello is a city of 5,753 people in Wayne County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $132,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 74% of Kentucky towns.
How Monticello 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 Monticello is worth $132,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $44,952, which is more affordable than 57% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $779 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monticello | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $779 | $837 |
| Median household income | $44,952 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Monticello
| People | Monticello | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.6% |
Weather in Monticello
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.2 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 121 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 5,231 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,309 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Monticello itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Monticello
9 public schools with 3,120 students, about 22.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County High School | 9-12 | 923 | 19.2 |
| Wayne County Middle School | 6-8 | 650 | 16.7 |
| Monticello Elementary School | 3-5 | 650 | 15.9 |
| Bell Elementary School | 1-2 | 437 | — |
| Walker Early Learning Center | PK-K | 361 | — |
| Wayne County Learning Academy | 6-12 | 40 | 13.3 |
| Lake Cumberland Youth Development Center | 8-12 | 33 | 11.0 |
| Otter Creek Academy | 6-12 | 26 | 6.5 |
| Wayne County Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Monticello
- Russell Springs, KY19.2 mi · 2,715 people · home $170,300
- Somerset, KY21.7 mi · 11,924 people · home $144,000
- Oneida, TN29.4 mi · 3,787 people · home $170,600
Monticello questions
Is Monticello, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monticello scores better for retirees than 37% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 74%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Monticello?
The median owner-occupied home in Monticello is valued at $132,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,952, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $779 a month.
What is the weather like in Monticello?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 14.2 inches of snow.
Does Monticello get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello 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)