The Town FilesRussell Springs, Kentucky
City in Russell County · population 2,715 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,300
- Household income
- $38,697
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 45.9
Russell Springs is a city of 2,715 people in Russell County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $170,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 94% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 91% of Kentucky towns.
How Russell Springs 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 Russell Springs is worth $170,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $38,697, which is more affordable than 8% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 48.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Russell Springs | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $745 | $837 |
| Median household income | $38,697 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Russell Springs
| People | Russell Springs | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Russell Springs
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russell Springs since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 27, 1971 about 2.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 130 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Russell County since 1996
Russell County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Russell County
Russell County had 6,399 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,596 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Russell Springs itself the ACS puts it at 12.4%.
Public schools in Russell Springs
5 public schools with 2,557 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County High School | 9-12 | 860 | 15.9 |
| Russell County Middle School | 6-8 | 666 | 16.2 |
| Russell Springs Elementary School | PK-5 | 632 | 15.0 |
| Salem Elementary School | PK-5 | 399 | 14.8 |
| Lake Cumberland Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Russell Springs
- Columbia, KY13.0 mi · 4,845 people · home $143,600
- Monticello, KY19.2 mi · 5,753 people · home $132,400
- Campbellsville, KY25.2 mi · 11,426 people · home $164,600
- Somerset, KY26.3 mi · 11,924 people · home $144,000
Russell Springs questions
Is Russell Springs, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Russell Springs scores better for retirees than 72% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 27%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Russell Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Russell Springs is valued at $170,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,697, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Russell Springs?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 4.9 inches of snow.
Does Russell Springs get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russell Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 27, 1971. 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)