David Adams, 2010
Cold Spring’s story
226 years in pictures
Census counts: 518 in 1950, 6,216 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 6 maps from 1898 on.
- 1800Cold Spring is founded
Cold SpringKY
A town of 6,640, founded in 1800. Public schools that outperform most of Kentucky.
Trash day: FridayPopulation
6,640
2025 Census estimate · +6.3% since 2020
Typical home
$299K
+3% in a year
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
52.0
years
Jobs based here
2,947
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#27 of 138 in KY
Is Cold Spring a good place to live?
Cold Spring is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades A− overall, ranked 27th of 138 in Kentucky, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its schools rank ahead of 92% of Kentucky towns. It also does better than most on incomes: the median household earns $75K. A typical home there costs about $299K, 3.7 years of the Cincinnati metro’s $81K median household income. 30% of residents are 65 or older in Cold Spring, above both the Kentucky town median (17%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Cold Spring is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 82% of U.S. towns. Among 142 Kentucky towns, just 3 have a higher median age than Cold Spring.
What makes Cold Spring stand out
Where Cold Spring beats most towns.
Campbell County schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Crossroads Elementary School | PK–5 | 587 |
| Donald E. Cline Elementary School | PK–5 | 398 |
| St. Joseph Elementary School | PK–8 | 440 |
SchoolsA
#10 of the 139 Kentucky towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
3.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Natural hazardsA−
Moderate risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
How Cold Spring grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kentucky), ordered by how far Cold Spring is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.2 of 20; 2% of households have no carA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 42% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →HealthHealthier than 55% of U.S. towns; St. Elizabeth Ft Thomas 4.7 miles awayB−Open →SafetyB−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 1% conserved landB−Open →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life2.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market33 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 52.0; 43% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 77 attractions →Paycor Stadium and 52 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Cold Spring. Close and well known come first.
7 mi Stadium & arenaPaycor Stadium
7 mi Stadium & arenaGreat American Ball Park
Big draw24 mi Theme parkKings Island3.5M visitors a year
Big draw29 mi Theme parkArk Encounter
9 mi Stadium & arenaNippert Stadium
8 mi Stadium & arenaTQL StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Paycor Stadium: JonRidinger, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Great American Ball Park: Eric Kilby profile at Flickr website, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kings Island: Eli Duke from Portland, OR, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ark Encounter: OlinEJ, CC0 · Nippert Stadium: Ben Levin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · TQL Stadium: Cornfield948, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Cold Spring: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Cold Spring, and how to reach them.
PowerDuke Energy Kentucky13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorthern Kentucky Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpFridayTown’s haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Kentucky you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCampbell County ClerkCampbell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2019
ZIP code4107641076 100%Census 2020
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 Cold Spring.
Cold Spring sends many workers across the state line, but it reports more crime than Wilder and its other graded neighbors and scores below Wilder and its other neighbors on health.
SchoolsA
For schools, Cold Spring earns an A
Its public schools are run by the Campbell County school district. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
92%of KY districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossroads Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 587 | B+ |
| Regional School ProgramsLargest public high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | – | – |
| Donald E. Cline Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 398 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KY on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
For cost of living, Cold Spring earns a B−
The median property tax bill is $2,369, against $1,544 across Kentucky, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
89% of households own their home in Cold Spring. The typical Cold Spring home is worth about $299,000, up 3% in a year, 29% above the Kentucky typical home.
$299KZillow home value
| Cold Spring | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 89% | 59% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,191 a month | $930 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Cold Spring$299K
Kentucky$231K
Market temperature
33
days on market
96.1%
sale-to-list price
+3%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
#53for trails in KY
| Cold Spring | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.4% | 1.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
1.4%
conserved · 42 of 3,030 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Friendship Park | 0.5 mi | 11 |
| 2. Municipal Park | 0.4 mi | 16 |
| 3. Robert J. Barth Lake Park | 0.3 mi | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Cold Spring
Cold Spring has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 23° and about 23 inches of snow falls in a winter.
23″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–42°
Spring43–65°
Summer63–85°
Fall45–67°
Oct 25
typical first frost
Apr 16
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most working residents commute out of Cold Spring
27% of working residents cross a state line to work. Cold Spring has about as many jobs (2,947) as working residents, but only 91 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Cold Spring for work: only 3% work in town. Since 2013, Cold Spring has added 191 jobs, to 2,947 in 2023. 9.9% of Cold Spring residents live below the poverty line.
3%work in town
| Cold Spring | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 15% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Cold Spring3%
Cincinnati16%
Florence5%
Newport5%
Covington5%
10 mi
median commute distance
2,947
jobs based in Cold Spring
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Cold Spring
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 58% of U.S. communities. Since 2015, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Cold Spring.
42risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
5
paid flood claims since 2015
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB−
A larger share of adults in Cold Spring had a checkup this year than in the typical Kentucky or U.S. town
All 4 graded neighbors score healthier than its B−, from Wilder (B) to Silver Grove (A−). Its widest gap with Kentucky is food insecurity: 9.9% of its 5,125 adults worry about having enough food, against 15.5% statewide.
Among 141 Kentucky towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Cold Spring. Cold Spring beats the Kentucky average on 13 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 3.
55%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Cold Spring | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 18% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 83% | 79% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 12% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
13 better15 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Cold Spring | KY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.9% | 15.5% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.5% | 11.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.5% | 8.7% |
St. Elizabeth Ft Thomas
4.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
71st
percentile among KY towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyB−
Cold Spring reports more crime per resident than 53% of U.S. towns
Each of the 3 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Wilder (B+) to Alexandria (A−). At 20 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 67% of Kentucky’s graded towns.
Cold Spring’s property crime rate is 16.3 per 1,000 residents.
47%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Cold Spring | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.3 per 1,000 residents | 8.2 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.9 per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Cold Spring0.9
Kentucky2.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Cold Spring16.3
Kentucky12.8
U.S.15.5
47th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
33rd
percentile among KY towns
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
107
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cold Spring
20pages on Cold Spring
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 92% of KY districts · 4 schoolsSafetyB−0.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than KY on 13 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$299K typical home · up 3% in a yearWork & commuteB+$75K median household income · 2,947 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 42% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
15 within 15 miles of the center of Cold Spring
Northern Kentucky UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Highland Heights1.8 mi$11,088 in-state tuitionAthenaeum of OhioUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Cincinnati, OH5.7 miGateway Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Florence11.3 mi$4,728 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Cold Spring residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kentucky.
About Cold Spring
City in Kentucky, United States
Cold Spring is a home rule-class city in Campbell County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 6,216 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. The organization Disabled American Veterans was formerly based in Cold Spring.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 866 ft
- Area code
- 859
Cold Spring’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Cold Spring.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its A−; Wilder (A) is closest.
AlexandriaHighland HeightsCrestviewSilver GroveWilderCold Spring
How the neighbors grade
| Town | KY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Spring | #27 | A− | B− | B− | A | B− |
| Alexandria | #12 | A+ | B | A− | A | B+ |
| Highland Heights | #2 | A+ | A | B+ | A | A− |
| Crestview | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Silver Grove | — | — | A+ | — | A | A− |
| Wilder | #22 | A | B+ | B+ | A | B |
Silver Grove has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Silver Grove reports no FBI crime data of its own. Crestview isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Cold Spring with a neighbor →
Questions about Cold Spring
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Cold Spring, KY a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Cold Spring grades A− overall, better than 83% of U.S. towns and #27 of 138 in Kentucky. It grades B− for health, B− for safety and A for schools.
Is Cold Spring, KY expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.