City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Russell, KY

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

3,696
Residents
$76,389
Median income
$207,900
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Russell - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Russell lands in the 58th percentile for household income and the 65th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

58th
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
65th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Russell, KY

Russell is a small town in Kentucky, home to 3,696 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $76,389 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Home values in Russell run a median of $207,900, and the median resident age is 41.7 years. 39.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 4 residential building permits were authorized in Russell (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. Russell reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 968.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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 $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kentucky run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 74.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

3,696 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$76,389 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Russell compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 58% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 65% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Kentucky alone, Russell ranks #107 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Russell 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 Russell toward the top of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Russell ranks #110 - the 79th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Russell only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#134 of 485
72nd percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#275 of 520
45th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#138 of 484
71st percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#394 of 519
24th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#110 of 520
79th 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.

58thIncome percentile
65thSafety percentile

58th percentile nationally for median household income · 65th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Russell's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Russell's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 65 Avg. percentile National median
Russell's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Russell's home value compares nationally

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

$207,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Russell $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 - Russell, KY Russell, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Russell, 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 Russell, KY median $76,389/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%
Russell, 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 Russell, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 39.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.6%

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

Population
3,696
Median Income
$76,389
Median Home Value
$207,900
Median Age
41.7
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
48.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
968.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
221.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
747.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,600 residents3,650 residents3,700 residents3,750 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,737 residents 3,628 residents ▼ -2.9%
Russell's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 1
2022 1
2023 1
2024 4

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.7%
Carpool
10.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
6.2%

Based on 1,390 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 Russell sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Southgate
3,680 people
Stanford
3,662 people
Buckner
3,786 people
Grayson
3,820 people
Prestonsburg
3,823 people
Beaver Dam
3,526 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Russell's 3,696 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mono Vista, CA
3,696 people
Highland Falls, NY
3,696 people
Independence, MN
3,695 people
Tabor City, NC
3,695 people
Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA
3,695 people
Haviland, NY
3,694 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Russell's $76,389 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Newcastle, ME
$76,389 median income
Troutman, NC
$76,389 median income
Taylor Ferry, OK
$76,389 median income
Bloomburg, TX
$76,389 median income
Overton, TX
$76,384 median income
Madison Park, NJ
$76,396 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Russell, 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 Russell, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.2% 6.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 90.2% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.9% 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 Russell 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
Russell (this city) 3,696 $76,389
Southgate 3,680 $55,469
Stanford 3,662 $55,000
Buckner 3,786 $149,700
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Russell, KY?

What is the population of Russell, KY? +

Russell, KY counts 3,696 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Russell households earn a median of $76,389 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Russell? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Russell; 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.

Is Russell, KY safe? +

Russell has a total crime rate of 968.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Russell's median home value sits at $207,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.