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Living in
Murray.
About
Life in Murray
Living in a college town built around Murray State University means you're part of a tight-knit community of about 17,300 people where the median household income is $44,091 and rent averages $870 a month—genuinely affordable if you're coming from anywhere on the coasts. You'll notice the population skews younger (median age 28) because of the student presence, which gives downtown a walkable, active vibe with local theaters, galleries like the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, and genuine community theaters that have been around since the state's early days.
Murray at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.1%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
83.5%
of households
Population Growth
+6.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Murray: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Murray, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.4%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.6%
of residents
65 and Older
13.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
32.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.25
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% below KY average
Rent, home values, and income in Murray
In Murray, rent runs 10% below the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,535
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $209,141 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above KY average
Unemployment in Murray
Unemployment in Calloway County, which includes Murray, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the KY average.
Unemployment rate
Murray: Calloway County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Calloway County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Murray Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute12.3 min avg
How Murray residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Murray, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 41 mi
Barkley Regional Airport (PAH)
Regional airport · few flights13k passengers boarded in 2025
- 96 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Murray runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
117.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
879.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Murray Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
75.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Calloway County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Calloway County, which includes Murray, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $198,000 |
| 2024 | 33 | Dense Fog | $236,000 |
| 2023 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $814,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $133,000 |
| 2021 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.4M |
| 2020 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $162,000 |
| 2019 | 28 | Strong Wind | $117,000 |
| 2018 | 35 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Calloway County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in McCracken County, KY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 37 miles from Murray) is typically good — 272 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
272
per year
Moderate Days
93
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: McCracken County, KY (37 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Murray has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.1"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"
Hot Days/Year
46
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
71
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 27°F | 4.24" |
| Feb | 50°F | 31°F | 5.17" |
| Mar | 61°F | 38°F | 5.54" |
| Apr | 71°F | 48°F | 5.58" |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 5.76" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 5.31" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 89°F | 67°F | 3.60" |
| Sep | 83°F | 60°F | 3.86" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 4.14" |
| Nov | 58°F | 38°F | 4.63" |
| Dec | 48°F | 31°F | 5.53" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Murray
Murray has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Murray-calloway County Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Murray
Murray's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 36.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Murray
Public · 4-year · 6,688 students · in-state tuition $10,320 · 63% graduate · median earnings $48,482 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Donelson National Battlefield, 24 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Murray
Murray has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Donelson National Battlefield (24 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
24 mi awayTrail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Murray
Calloway County Public Library
710 Main Street, Murray
Cities Near Murray
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Murray?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Murray FAQ
Is Murray, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Murray's median rent is $870/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,091/year. Median home value is $195,000.
Is Murray, Kentucky safe?⌄
Murray's violent crime rate was 117 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 879 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Murray, Kentucky?⌄
Calloway County, which includes Murray, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Murray, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Murray is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $870/month and median household income is $44,091/year. The median home value is $195,000. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Murray, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Murray is 12 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from