The Town FilesMorehead, Kentucky
City in Rowan County · population 7,151 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,900
- Household income
- $36,741
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 22.0
Morehead is a city of 7,151 people in Rowan County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $184,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 79% of Kentucky towns.
How Morehead 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 Morehead is worth $184,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $36,741, which is more affordable than 4% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 33.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Morehead | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $800 | $837 |
| Median household income | $36,741 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 33.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Morehead
| People | Morehead | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 88.6% |
Weather in Morehead
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Morehead since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 28, 1990 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Rowan County since 1996
Rowan County has been included in 32 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 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 |
| March 31, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4592: Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Rowan County
Rowan County had 10,490 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,895 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Morehead itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Morehead
10 public schools with 3,411 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan County Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,019 | 21.7 |
| Rowan County Middle School | 6-8 | 677 | 19.3 |
| McBrayer Elementary School | K-5 | 583 | 19.4 |
| Rodburn Elementary School | K-5 | 397 | 14.2 |
| Clearfield Elementary School | K-5 | 313 | 16.5 |
| Tilden Hogge Elementary School | K-5 | 222 | 13.9 |
| Rowan County Preschool Center | PK-PK | 158 | 19.8 |
| Bluegrass Discovery Academy Middle | 6-8 | 16 | 8.0 |
| Bluegrass Discovery Academy High | 9-12 | 13 | 6.5 |
| Morehead Youth Development Center | 7-12 | 13 | 6.5 |
Towns near Morehead
- West Liberty, KY21.2 mi · 3,215 people · home $206,300
- Flemingsburg, KY22.6 mi · 2,953 people · home $132,800
- Mount Sterling, KY28.5 mi · 7,558 people · home $187,600
- Grayson, KY29.6 mi · 3,834 people · home $136,900
Morehead questions
Is Morehead, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Morehead scores better for retirees than 4% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 22%. 7.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 22.0).
How much does a house cost in Morehead?
The median owner-occupied home in Morehead is valued at $184,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,741, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Morehead?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Morehead get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Morehead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 28, 1990. 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)