40% of residents live below the poverty line in Martin, against 16% in Kentucky’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. No town among the 140 in Kentucky we compare has a lower median rent than Martin. Martin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

480 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Allen · 4 mi Prestonsburg · 8 mi Wayland · 8 mi Coal Run Village · 12 mi Pikeville · 14 mi Wheelwright · 16 mi

The Piarist School, 2013

Martin’s story

106 years in pictures

The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2013.

1920Martin is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Martin: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Martin, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerKentucky Power15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMartin Water Department3 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Martin’s trash rules yet

SchoolsFloyd County School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereFloyd County ClerkFloyd County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015

ZIP code4164941649 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 Martin.

Housing

A smaller share of households in Martin own their home than in the typical Kentucky or U.S. town

30% of Martin households own their home, below both Kentucky’s towns (59%) and U.S. towns (73%). Typical home values fell 22% in the year to September 2026.

$76KZillow home value

Typical home value

Martin$76K

Kentucky$231K

−22%

value change, 1 year

Full pageMartin’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 22% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 2.5 years of income Rents$358 a month · Median rent

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Schools

The schools Martin’s kids attend

Its public schools are run by the Floyd County school district. Its one school is below.

School	Level	Students	Letter
May Valley Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8	Grades PK–8	508	C⁺

Full pageMartin’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsFloyd County Every school1 school · May Valley Elementary School Questions“Are Martin’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Work & commute

A job hub: Martin has 1.7 jobs for every working resident and draws in 254 commuters

Most working residents leave Martin for work: only 4% work in town. Martin’s average trip to work is 19 minutes. Jobs based in Martin fell to 260 in 2023, 217 fewer than in 2013.

4%work in town

	Martin	Kentucky towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	19 minutes	22 minutes	25 minutes
Working residents who work in town	3.9%	15%	8%

Where working residents work

In Martin4%

Prestonsburg26%

Pikeville8%

Hazard4%

West Liberty2%

12 mi

median commute distance

260

jobs based in Martin

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageMartin’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here260 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work4% work in Martin Commute times19 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 12 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazards

The FEMA risk score in Martin is higher than in most of Kentucky or the rest of the country

The FEMA risk score in Martin is 96 of 100. Since 1978, 254 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Martin.

96risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland flooding

254

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageMartin’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claims254 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters11 federal disasters · Paid out in Martin Get ready3.3 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Martin has mild winters and pleasant summers

Martin has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 26° and about 4 inches of snow falls in a winter.

4″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter28–48°

Spring43–69°

Summer63–86°

Fall45–70°

Oct 23

typical first frost

Apr 23

typical last frost

+0.6°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageMartin’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 87°, January lows 26°Rain & snow4″ of snow a winter · 47 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Safety

Crime reported in Martin

1 crime was reported in Martin in 2025: 0 property and 1 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.

Martin is small, so we show counts rather than rates.

violent crimes reported in 2025

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageMartin’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type1 violent crime · Reported in 2025 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Questions“Is Martin, KY safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Health

How healthy Martin is

Martin beats the Kentucky average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 44% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Martin. Only 10 of the 142 Kentucky towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Martin.

	Martin	Kentucky towns	U.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	44%	40%	36%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	30%	27%	23%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	43%	38%	35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	17%	15%	14%