City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Phelps, KY

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

387
Residents
$28,542
Median income
$111,600
Median home
$977
Median rent (state)

Phelps - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Phelps lands in the 2nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
18th
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: Phelps, KY

387 people live in Phelps, Kentucky - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Phelps brings in $28,542 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.9%. Phelps's housing stock carries a median value of $111,600, and the median resident age is 55.6 years. About 6.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 2.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $977 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kentucky's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 87.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

387 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$28,542 /yr

Poverty 8.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Phelps compare to other US cities?

Where Phelps sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% 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 Phelps against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Phelps toward the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Phelps ranks #441 - the 15th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Phelps only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#459 of 485
5th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#262 of 520
48th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#337 of 484
30th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#304 of 519
41st percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#441 of 520
15th 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.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Phelps's home value compares nationally

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

$111,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Phelps $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 - Phelps, KY Phelps, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Phelps, 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 Phelps, KY median $28,542/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%
Phelps, 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 Phelps, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 2.3%

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

Population
387
Median Income
$28,542
Median Home Value
$111,600
Median Age
55.6
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Labor force participation
2.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.7%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

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 Phelps sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$977/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Symsonia
386 people
Sadieville
385 people
Norwood
395 people
Creekside
378 people
Forest Hills
374 people
Meadowview Estates
373 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Phelps's 387 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Greenville, CA
387 people
Oak Glen, CA
387 people
Tower Hill, IL
387 people
Vallonia, IN
387 people
Casey, IA
387 people
Everest, KS
387 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Phelps's $28,542 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cobalt, MO
$28,542 median income
Corona, NM
$28,542 median income
Brunswick, NC
$28,542 median income
Palmarejo comunidad (Coamo Municipio), PR
$28,525 median income
Nathrop, CO
$28,514 median income
Peever Flats, SD
$28,571 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Phelps, 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 Phelps, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.2% 9.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 90.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 9.8% 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 Phelps 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
Phelps (this city) 387 $28,542
Symsonia 386 N/A
Sadieville 385 $59,688
Norwood 395 $106,667
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Phelps, KY?

What is the population of Phelps, KY? +

Phelps, KY has a population of 387 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Phelps, the typical household earns $28,542 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Phelps? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Phelps; 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 Phelps, KY? +

Homes in Phelps carry a median value of $111,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.