The Town FilesRussell, Kentucky
City in Greenup County · population 3,744 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,900
- Household income
- $76,182
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.3
Russell is a city of 3,744 people in Greenup County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $211,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for families than 91% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 81% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Russell 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 is worth $211,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $76,182, which is more affordable than 64% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $743 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Russell | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $743 | $837 |
| Median household income | $76,182 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Russell
| People | Russell | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 88.6% |
Weather in Russell
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russell since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 1980 about 6.8 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 59 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2025.
Severe weather in Greenup County since 1996
Greenup County has been included in 33 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 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 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Greenup County
Greenup County had 7,009 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,910 a year. Unemployment was 6.5% in 2023; in Russell itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Russell
5 public schools with 1,602 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell High School | 9-12 | 619 | 16.3 |
| Russell Middle School | 6-8 | 509 | 16.4 |
| Russell Primary School | PK-2 | 459 | 13.5 |
| Russell Independent Alternative School | 5-12 | 15 | 15.0 |
| Russell Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Russell
- Ironton, OH1.7 mi · 10,571 people · home $106,700
- Flatwoods, KY1.9 mi · 7,325 people · home $114,600
- Westwood, KY2.5 mi · 4,387 people · home $92,200
- Ashland, KY4.6 mi · 21,625 people · home $125,000
- South Point, OH8.9 mi · 3,836 people · home $184,000
- Kenova, WV9.8 mi · 3,033 people · home $109,000
- Huntington, WV15.8 mi · 46,842 people · home $127,200
- Wheelersburg, OH17.7 mi · 6,531 people · home $210,000
Russell questions
Is Russell, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Russell scores better for retirees than 81% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 64%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Russell?
The median owner-occupied home in Russell is valued at $211,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,182, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $743 a month.
What is the weather like in Russell?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Russell get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 1980. 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)