City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

West Van Lear, KY

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

1,224
Residents
$78,625
Median income
$131,100
Median home
$866
Median rent (state)

West Van Lear - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, West Van Lear places in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
1st
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: West Van Lear, KY

1,224 people live in West Van Lear, Kentucky - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $78,625 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.1%. Typical homes in West Van Lear are valued around $131,100, and the median resident age is 29.8 years. 20.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 71.4% 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $866 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Kentucky, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in West Van Lear report an average commute of 23.6 minutes, with 86.1% driving alone and 13.9% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 71.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

1,224 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$78,625 /yr

Poverty 2.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does West Van Lear compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% 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 West Van Lear against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places West Van Lear near the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, West Van Lear ranks #366 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares West Van Lear only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#126 of 485
74th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#366 of 520
0th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#272 of 484
44th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#415 of 519
20th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#229 of 520
56th 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.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How West Van Lear's home value compares nationally

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

$131,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. West Van Lear $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 - West Van Lear, KY West Van Lear, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Van Lear, 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 West Van Lear, KY median $78,625/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%
West Van Lear, 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 West Van Lear, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.4%

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

Population
1,224
Median Income
$78,625
Median Home Value
$131,100
Median Age
29.8
Poverty Rate
2.1%
Labor force participation
71.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.1%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.6 minutes
Drive Alone
86.1%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
13.9%

Based on 562 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 West Van Lear sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$866/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Hawesville
1,221 people
Barbourmeade
1,208 people
Clinton
1,246 people
Bellefonte
1,251 people
Verona
1,196 people
Wurtland
1,257 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Van Lear's 1,224 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Silver Springs Shores East, FL
1,224 people
Sutherland, NE
1,224 people
Bloomfield, PA
1,224 people
Jamestown, IN
1,225 people
Clarence, IA
1,223 people
Jewell Junction, IA
1,225 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Van Lear's $78,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Prince Frederick, MD
$78,625 median income
Summerville, SC
$78,621 median income
Patton, TX
$78,621 median income
Aspen, CO
$78,636 median income
Towanda, IL
$78,611 median income
Bremond, TX
$78,611 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Van Lear, 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 West Van Lear, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 96.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 4.0% 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 West Van Lear 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
West Van Lear (this city) 1,224 $78,625
Hawesville 1,221 $51,898
Barbourmeade 1,208 $109,800
Clinton 1,246 $32,991
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Van Lear, KY?

What is the population of West Van Lear, KY? +

West Van Lear, KY has a population of 1,224 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Van Lear, KY? +

The median household income in West Van Lear is $78,625 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Van Lear? +

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

West Van Lear's median home value sits at $131,100, 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.