The Town FilesMurray, Kentucky
City in Calloway County · population 17,307 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $195,000
- Household income
- $44,091
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 25.8
Murray is a city of 17,307 people in Calloway County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $195,000, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 88% of Kentucky towns.
How Murray 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 Murray is worth $195,000, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $44,091, which is more affordable than 8% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $870 a month. 41.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Murray | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $195,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $870 | $837 |
| Median household income | $44,091 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 41.7% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Murray
| People | Murray | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Murray
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 58.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murray since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1968 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 14, 2010.
Severe weather in Calloway County since 1996
Calloway County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4804: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Calloway County
Calloway County had 15,570 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,250 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Murray itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Murray
13 public schools with 5,003 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calloway County High School | 9-12 | 843 | 17.6 |
| Murray Middle School | 4-8 | 669 | 15.2 |
| Calloway County Middle School | 6-8 | 637 | 15.9 |
| Murray High School | 9-12 | 586 | 16.7 |
| North Calloway Elementary School | K-5 | 572 | 14.0 |
| Murray Elementary School | PK-3 | 560 | 14.4 |
| Southwest Calloway Elementary School | K-5 | 433 | 15.5 |
| East Calloway Elementary School | K-5 | 309 | 12.9 |
| Calloway County Preschool Center | PK-PK | 188 | 23.5 |
| Calloway County Alternative Program | 6-12 | 100 | 100.0 |
| Murray Preschool Head Start | PK-PK | 97 | 13.9 |
| Calloway County Day Treatment | 6-12 | 9 | 2.3 |
Towns near Murray
- Benton, KY16.3 mi · 4,756 people · home $157,000
- Mayfield, KY19.8 mi · 10,017 people · home $112,500
- Paris, TN22.2 mi · 10,316 people · home $163,600
- Reidland, KY29.5 mi · 4,526 people · home $228,000
Murray questions
Is Murray, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Murray scores better for retirees than 12% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 10%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.8).
How much does a house cost in Murray?
The median owner-occupied home in Murray is valued at $195,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,091, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $870 a month.
What is the weather like in Murray?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.1 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Murray get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murray since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1968. 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)