The 10 Worst Small Towns In Kentucky For 2024


The worst small towns in Kentucky are Prestonsburg and Clay City for 2024 based on Friday Night Science.

Most Americans have never been to small town Kentucky. However, as the Kentuckian who live there know, small town Kentucky is an awesome place to call home.

But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Kentucky has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Bluegrass State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.

After analyzing more than 159 of Kentucky’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Kentucky where you’d never want to live:


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


These are the worst small towns in Kentucky for 2024:

  1. Prestonsburg
  2. Clay City
  3. Pine Knot
  4. Cumberland
  5. Jenkins
  6. Guthrie
  7. Morgantown
  8. Liberty
  9. Cloverport
  10. Hickman

Worst Small Towns To Live In Kentucky Map

So what is the worst small town to call home in Kentucky for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Prestonsburg is the worst small town to live in Kentucky.

While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Prestonsburg home. Everyone

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.

And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Kentucky or the worst places to live in Kentucky.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.

The 10 Worst Small Towns In Kentucky For 2024

1. Prestonsburg

Prestonsburg, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,868
Median Home Value: $111,057
Median Income: $27,099
Unemployment Rate: 14.8%

2. Clay City

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,567
Median Home Value: $115,738
Median Income: $22,929
Unemployment Rate: 11.9%

3. Pine Knot

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 1,483
Median Home Value: $92,563
Median Income: $1,000
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%

4. Cumberland

Cumberland, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,390
Median Home Value: $48,817
Median Income: $32,716
Unemployment Rate: 42.5%

5. Jenkins

Jenkins, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 1,862
Median Home Value: $61,845
Median Income: $26,500
Unemployment Rate: 17.0%

6. Guthrie

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,414
Median Home Value: $159,376
Median Income: $34,118
Unemployment Rate: 15.9%

7. Morgantown

Morgantown, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,734
Median Home Value: $133,317
Median Income: $29,103
Unemployment Rate: 11.7%

8. Liberty

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,164
Median Home Value: $114,886
Median Income: $28,347
Unemployment Rate: 18.4%

9. Cloverport

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,185
Median Home Value: $91,147
Median Income: $33,250
Unemployment Rate: 18.1%

10. Hickman

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,884
Median Home Value: $54,875
Median Income: $31,000
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Kentucky is lousy or not?

To rank the worst small towns to live in Kentucky, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.

We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.

Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (The lower, the worse)
  • Highest Unemployment Rates
  • Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
  • Education (Number of high school dropouts)
  • High Crime

We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 159 to be exact.

We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.

We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Kentucky.

There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Kentucky

If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Bluegrass State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The worst small towns in Kentucky are Prestonsburg, Clay City, Pine Knot, Cumberland, Jenkins, Guthrie, Morgantown, Liberty, Cloverport, and Hickman.

If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Kentucky, according to science:

  1. Beechwood Village (Pop. 1,302)
  2. Indian Hills (Pop. 2,891)
  3. Northfield (Pop. 1,106)

For more Kentucky reading, check out:

Worst Small Towns In Kentucky

Rank Town Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income
1 Prestonsburg 3,868 14.8% $111,057 $27,099
2 Clay City 1,567 11.9% $115,738 $22,929
3 Pine Knot 1,483 3.9% $92,563 $1,000
4 Cumberland 2,390 42.5% $48,817 $32,716
5 Jenkins 1,862 17.0% $61,845 $26,500
6 Guthrie 1,414 15.9% $159,376 $34,118
7 Morgantown 2,734 11.7% $133,317 $29,103
8 Liberty 2,164 18.4% $114,886 $28,347
9 Cloverport 1,185 18.1% $91,147 $33,250
10 Hickman 1,884 4.9% $54,875 $31,000
11 Brownsville 1,050 7.6% $174,983 $34,150
12 Harlan 1,908 11.8% $82,436 $24,936
13 Brodhead 1,361 12.1% $137,554 $28,750
14 Beattyville 1,956 11.4% $112,642 $23,423
15 Clinton 1,173 13.3% $118,883 $31,100
16 Barbourville 3,195 23.7% $121,994 $21,287
17 Vanceburg 1,303 7.3% $62,959 $25,089
18 Cave City 2,707 9.2% $170,844 $37,431
19 Burkesville 1,423 2.4% $107,941 $26,563
20 Russell Springs 2,713 8.1% $139,665 $34,219
21 Edmonton 1,898 10.1% $139,109 $47,841
22 Salyersville 1,880 8.1% $111,006 $29,280
23 Earlington 1,219 9.0% $48,845 $38,971
24 Pineville 1,796 11.7% $71,685 $27,159
25 Irvine 2,785 11.6% $89,291 $31,359
26 Whitesburg 2,153 17.6% $86,993 $32,663
27 Breckinridge Center 1,770 7.8% $0 $66,023
28 Tompkinsville 2,699 7.8% $120,412 $36,436
29 Lewisburg 1,084 9.5% $176,346 $35,469
30 Munfordville 1,746 4.5% $157,726 $26,953
31 Elkhorn City 1,013 14.7% $70,167 $43,819
32 Dawson Springs 2,026 11.4% $99,960 $34,615
33 Flemingsburg 2,955 16.6% $155,896 $37,857
34 Stearns 1,224 2.6% $88,566 $1,000
35 Dry Ridge 2,227 5.8% $243,119 $46,000
36 Jamestown 2,343 8.1% $143,554 $29,438
37 Grayson 3,841 13.4% $137,469 $27,045
38 Providence 2,883 8.2% $77,062 $49,954
39 Dixon 1,134 15.4% $145,725 $44,444
40 Paintsville 4,277 7.6% $123,284 $27,601
41 Burnside 1,081 2.6% $84,039 $52,847
42 Fulton 2,693 2.8% $93,681 $33,090
43 Manchester 2,195 3.6% $97,138 $30,474
44 Whitley City 1,148 0.0% $84,226 $22,702
45 Horse Cave 2,353 7.8% $139,385 $46,971
46 Jackson 2,286 9.6% $72,263 $33,333
47 Camargo 1,018 6.9% $173,743 $42,262
48 Mount Vernon 2,342 3.7% $119,670 $34,550
49 Albany 2,264 5.6% $134,458 $39,167
50 Clay 1,079 11.4% $107,264 $36,354
51 Wurtland 1,133 5.7% $90,801 $43,654
52 Junction City 2,166 9.8% $155,825 $38,646
53 Farley 4,559 3.9% $93,150 $45,257
54 Irvington 1,387 11.4% $128,670 $48,714
55 Beaver Dam 3,535 8.8% $135,306 $48,991
56 Clarkson 1,218 5.4% $186,347 $21,250
57 Catlettsburg 1,782 10.7% $120,867 $33,047
58 Greensburg 2,307 18.2% $137,991 $38,571
59 Greenup 1,068 7.4% $100,450 $43,036
60 South Shore 1,375 27.4% $108,194 $27,199
61 Owingsville 1,960 5.2% $154,995 $38,255
62 Marion 2,905 2.5% $91,034 $38,023
63 Annville 1,189 0.0% $105,018 $56,979
64 Falmouth 2,548 6.5% $165,522 $38,021
65 Stanton 3,214 6.0% $137,688 $29,097
66 Lebanon Junction 2,090 11.7% $187,108 $49,509
67 Coal Run Village 1,519 3.0% $119,590 $43,315
68 Auburn 1,645 8.8% $207,108 $40,259
69 Sebree 1,798 0.2% $132,728 $60,000
70 Lancaster 3,943 10.9% $217,697 $45,610
71 Columbia 4,811 5.8% $130,093 $45,163
72 Jeffersonville 1,833 8.8% $169,423 $52,031
73 Cadiz 2,618 2.2% $73,326 $39,439
74 Owenton 1,640 8.9% $134,567 $45,766
75 Scottsville 4,332 16.2% $169,245 $34,835
76 Hawesville 1,043 7.0% $176,931 $54,423
77 West Point 1,073 3.5% $95,036 $34,769
78 White Plains 1,009 3.2% $129,033 $41,125
79 Carrollton 3,889 8.0% $145,181 $48,333
80 Calvert City 2,524 3.8% $140,552 $39,974
81 Elkton 1,953 6.1% $165,200 $39,922
82 North Corbin 1,955 9.9% $110,442 $59,306
83 Eddyville 2,783 2.5% $222,932 $37,475
84 Warsaw 2,180 4.4% $200,565 $52,240
85 Ledbetter 1,815 9.6% $146,156 $60,667
86 Eminence 2,705 6.6% $192,316 $48,793
87 Silver Grove 1,335 5.4% $156,350 $43,975
88 West Liberty 3,247 3.1% $106,992 $47,083
89 Hardinsburg 2,476 6.9% $156,524 $52,684
90 Muldraugh 1,221 8.4% $124,730 $49,375
91 Augusta 1,599 12.0% $154,527 $50,135
92 Sturgis 1,693 3.7% $102,097 $39,148
93 Raceland 2,015 7.2% $123,558 $60,398
94 Louisa 2,652 7.9% $148,644 $49,583
95 Westwood 4,581 3.1% $94,173 $66,125
96 West Buechel 1,936 4.8% $170,683 $48,750
97 Campbellsburg 1,045 9.1% $202,752 $53,512
98 Worthington 1,722 2.8% $115,062 $60,972
99 Pleasureville 1,223 2.5% $152,802 $47,436
100 Verona 1,146 3.4% $286,365 $68,398
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.

7 thoughts on “The 10 Worst Small Towns In Kentucky For 2024

  1. This is absouletly not true about Kenvir and Cawood. Yes, there aren’t many jobs but these places are very safe to live. Very little crime. Some of the best people live in these tight knit communities where they help each other. I live in Harlan County, I was born here and will die here. I am very offended about the negative remarks made about our communities.

  2. Has the writer done so much as visited Glencoe and tried to talk to it’s citizens? I detest the insulting conclusion in this ” article”. Where do you get your information? Research? Talking to people? Any of that?

    1. They get their data from sheriff’s office, Kentucky state police, unemployment office, news paper reports, federal census records, average pay rate, rate of population who lives under the poverty level, crime rate, cost of living, unemployment rate, number of things to do, how far you have to travel to find work, number of jobs available, drop out rate for all citizens living there not just the ones currently dropping out, teen pregnancy rate, and much much more

  3. I was living in Prestonville for over 5 years and I was manager in McDonald’s of Carrollton in first shift and manager in McDonald’s of Madison in second shift then if the people is poor there is because they are lazy ,also farmers raise a lot tobacco,about the safety l have 15 years living in this country and is the only place that someone broke into my house, l am sure my neighbors were…..bad,bad experience….

  4. There is good and bad in every community..I’m sure where this writer lives Everything is just perfect..Don’t blame everyone who lives in these places on a few bad apples..It’s the scourge of drugs that’s ripping these places apart

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