What it's like to live in Glasgow
Glasgow is a small city in Kentucky with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Glasgow deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Glasgow compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Glasgow
Based on Glasgow's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,698
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $33,960 a year
- 52% of Glasgow renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$34,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $17,390
- Homes cost 4.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 40% below US
$849/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $849 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $173,900. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $173,900 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Barren County is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Barren County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 39% below US
200 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1686/100k · Glasgow Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mammoth Cave National Park (17 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Glasgow's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($849/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Glasgow
All Kentucky guides →Moving to Bowling Green →
28 mi away · pop. 75,388
Rent $998/mo · Income $48,873
Compare with Glasgow →Moving to Campbellsville →
39 mi away · pop. 11,622
Rent $685/mo · Income $49,644
Compare with Glasgow →Not sure Glasgow is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.