The Town FilesParis, Kentucky
City in Bourbon County · population 10,171 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,300
- Household income
- $55,839
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.8
Paris is a city of 10,171 people in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $186,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Kentucky towns, better for cycling than 97% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 87% of Kentucky towns.
How Paris 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 Paris is worth $186,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $55,839, which is more affordable than 37% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paris | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $832 | $837 |
| Median household income | $55,839 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Paris
| People | Paris | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Paris
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.6 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 2, 2024 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Bourbon County since 1996
Bourbon County has been included in 22 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 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 |
| April 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Bourbon County
Bourbon County had 7,092 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,178 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Paris itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Paris
9 public schools with 3,286 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon County High School | 9-12 | 796 | 19.4 |
| Bourbon County Middle School | 6-8 | 560 | 17.0 |
| Bourbon Central Elementary School | K-5 | 473 | 15.8 |
| Cane Ridge Elementary School | K-5 | 460 | 14.4 |
| Paris Elementary School | K-5 | 339 | 15.4 |
| Paris High School | 9-12 | 231 | 16.5 |
| Bourbon County Preschool Headstart | PK-PK | 192 | 21.3 |
| Paris Middle School | 6-8 | 153 | 13.9 |
| Paris Preschool Center | PK-PK | 82 | 27.3 |
Towns near Paris
- Cynthiana, KY12.7 mi · 6,333 people · home $172,500
- Winchester, KY14.4 mi · 19,134 people · home $188,300
- Georgetown, KY14.8 mi · 37,086 people · home $265,400
- Lexington-Fayette, KY14.9 mi · 322,570 people · home $293,500
- Mount Sterling, KY19.9 mi · 7,558 people · home $187,600
- Nicholasville, KY26.6 mi · 31,093 people · home $226,800
- Versailles, KY26.7 mi · 10,347 people · home $286,100
Paris questions
Is Paris, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paris scores better for retirees than 43% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 34%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Paris?
The median owner-occupied home in Paris is valued at $186,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,839, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in Paris?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 11.6 inches of snow.
Does Paris get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 2, 2024. 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)