Jackson County, Kentucky courthouse, 2007
McKee’s story
168 years in pictures
Census counts: 88 in 1880, 803 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and a map from 1953 on.
- 1858McKee is settled
McKeeKY
A town of 822, settled in 1858.
Photo: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
822
2025 Census estimate · +0.2% since 2020
Typical home
$114K
−17.7% in a year
Household income
$21K
median
Median age
49.7
years
Jobs based here
324
A job hub
Is McKee a good place to live?
36% of residents live below the poverty line in McKee, above both Kentucky’s towns (16%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 143 Kentucky towns we compare, none has a lower median household income than McKee. McKee has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
822 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to McKee: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in McKee, and how to reach them.
PowerJackson Energy Coop14.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMckee Water Works2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have McKee’s trash rules yet
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 hereJackson County ClerkJackson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code4044740447 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 McKee.
Work & commute
McKee has 1.6 jobs for every working resident, and 309 people commute in
Most working residents leave McKee for work: only 7% work in town. At 18 minutes, McKee’s average trip to work is below both the Kentucky town median (22 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Jobs based in McKee fell to 324 in 2023, 40 fewer than in 2013.
7%work in town
| McKee | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.2% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In McKee7%
London7%
Annville7%
Lexington6%
Richmond5%
23 mi
median commute distance
324
jobs based in McKee
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools McKee’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Jackson County school district. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Jackson County High School, with 536 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKee Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 391 | A |
| Jackson County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 536 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
Homes in McKee are worth about $114K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical McKee home is worth about $114,000, down 17.7% in a year, 50% below the Kentucky typical home. 41% of McKee households own their home.
$114KZillow home value
Typical home value
McKee$114K
Kentucky$231K
−17.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
McKee faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 11 flood insurance claims have been paid out in McKee.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesWildfire
11
paid flood claims since 1981
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in McKee
McKee has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Of the 143 Kentucky towns we compare, none has a lower July high than McKee.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–46°
Spring43–66°
Summer62–84°
Fall45–68°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in McKee
2 crimes were reported in McKee in 2025: 2 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
McKee is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
McKee stands out in Kentucky and nationally: a larger share of its adults say their health is fair or poor
35% of adults say their health is fair or poor in McKee. No town among the 142 in Kentucky we compare has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than McKee. 23% of adults report frequent mental distress in McKee.
| McKee | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 23% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 18% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 18% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 15% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
0 better11 too close to call20 worse
| What stands out | McKee | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 11.2% | 5.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 28.3% | 15.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 17.4% | 10.2% |
Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital
19.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
5%conserved
| McKee | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 5% | 1.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
5%
conserved · 77 of 1,532 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bond Memorial Park | 0.1 mi | 4 |
| 2. Football Field | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about McKee
19pages on McKee
The big questions
Schools5 schoolsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBetter than KY on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of living$114K typical home · down 17.7% in a yearWork & commute$21K median household income · 324 jobs hereNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of McKee; the nearest are
Berea CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Berea19.5 mi$51,658 tuitionEastern Kentucky UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Richmond27.5 mi$10,320 in-state tuitionSomerset Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Somerset43.2 mi$4,728 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 McKee residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
A job hub
Every workday, about 309 people come to McKee for work
Where McKee’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
324jobs based in McKee
7%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About McKee
City in Kentucky, United States
McKee is a home rule-class city in Jackson County, Kentucky, United States. It is the county seat and only city in the county. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 803.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1882
- Area
- 2.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,030 ft
- ZIP code
- 40447
- Area code
- 606
Questions about McKee
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is McKee, KY a good place to live?
McKee has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.