City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

McDowell, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for McDowell - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

549
Residents
$35,576
Median income
$73,600
Median home
$904
Median rent (state)

McDowell - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, McDowell lands in the 5th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: McDowell, KY

Kentucky's McDowell is a small town, with 549 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in McDowell brings in $35,576 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.8%. Typical homes in McDowell are valued around $73,600, and the median resident age is 55.2 years. 26.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 24.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: the state registers 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $904 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kentucky run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 94.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

549 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$35,576 /yr

Poverty 26.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does McDowell compare to other US cities?

McDowell measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares McDowell against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Home Value places McDowell near the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 484 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, McDowell ranks #446 - the 8th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares McDowell only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#412 of 485
15th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#335 of 520
34th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#446 of 484
8th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#81 of 519
84th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#174 of 520
66th percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How McDowell's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$73,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. McDowell $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - McDowell, KY McDowell, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not McDowell, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution McDowell, KY median $35,576/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
McDowell, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for McDowell, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 24.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
549
Median Income
$35,576
Median Home Value
$73,600
Median Age
55.2
Poverty Rate
26.8%
Labor force participation
24.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.2%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.6%
Carpool
18.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
10.2%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 88 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county McDowell sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$904/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Brownsboro Farm
549 people
Kenvir
550 people
Fleming-Neon
555 people
Sandy Hook
542 people
Caneyville
541 people
Strathmoor
557 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to McDowell's 549 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dodge City, AL
549 people
Empire, CO
549 people
Bowersville, GA
549 people
Denver, IN
549 people
Hewlett Neck, NY
549 people
Lattimore, NC
549 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to McDowell's $35,576 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wawaka, IN
$35,577 median income
Spring Hope, NC
$35,577 median income
Beecher, MI
$35,582 median income
West Canton, NC
$35,583 median income
Richton, MS
$35,568 median income
Red Bay, AL
$35,587 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - McDowell, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition McDowell, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 99.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 99.6% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How McDowell compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
McDowell (this city) 549 $35,576
Brownsboro Farm 549 $151,250
Kenvir 550 N/A
Fleming-Neon 555 $37,969
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about McDowell, KY?

What is the population of McDowell, KY? +

549 people live in McDowell, KY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in McDowell, KY? +

McDowell households earn a median of $35,576 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in McDowell? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for McDowell; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in McDowell, KY? +

A typical home in McDowell is worth $73,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.