ClarksonKY
A town of 972, settled in 1882.
Is Clarkson a good place to live?
32% of residents live below the poverty line in Clarkson, above both Kentucky’s towns (16%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 143 Kentucky towns, just 2 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Clarkson. The biggest park or preserve is Clarkson City Park, at 29 acres. Clarkson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
972 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Clarkson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clarkson, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clarkson.
Clarkson stands out in Kentucky and nationally: the median rent there is lower
At $552 a month, Clarkson’s median rent is against $934 a month in Kentucky’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. 38% of households own their home in Clarkson. Typical home values fell 16% in the year to September 2026.
| Clarkson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 38% | 59% | 73% |
| Median rent | $552 a month | $934 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The schools Clarkson’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Grayson County school district. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkson Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 642 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts
Clarkson has four seasons and pleasant summers
Clarkson has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Clarkson is 88°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents commute out of Clarkson
Most working residents leave Clarkson for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Leitchfield (29%), Elizabethtown (12%) and Lexington (5%). Half commute less than 24 miles.
| Clarkson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.1% | 15% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Crime reported in Clarkson
1 crime was reported in Clarkson in 2025: 1 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Clarkson is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
How healthy Clarkson is
Clarkson beats the Kentucky average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 22% of Clarkson adults smoke cigarettes. Only 5 of the 142 Kentucky towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Clarkson.
| Clarkson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 39% | 35% |
| What stands out | Clarkson | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 32.8% | 18.9% |
| More uninsured adults | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 21.8% | 15.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Clarkson
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Clarkson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.5% | 1.7% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Clarkson City Park | — | 29 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Clarkson
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Clarkson; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Clarkson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
About Clarkson
City in Kentucky, United States
Clarkson is a home rule-class city in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 933 at the 2020 census, up from 875 at the 2010 census, Once called "Grayson Springs Depot" after a nearby resort, the name was changed in 1882 to honor the resort's owner, Manoah Clarkson. Clarkson is known for its Honeyfest and is home to The Walter T. Kelley Company, a manufacturer of beekeeping equipment.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 728 ft
- ZIP code
- 42726
Questions about Clarkson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clarkson, KY a good place to live?
Clarkson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.