Pete Lyles House · National Register of Historic Places
Symsonia’s story
179 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 maps from 1936 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1847Symsonia is settled
SymsoniaKY
Photo: Bcopeland69 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
473
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$187K
+0.6% in a year
Median age
36.9
years
Jobs based here
38
A commuter town
Is Symsonia a good place to live?
Only 6 of the 143 Kentucky towns we compare have a higher July high than Symsonia. Pete Lyles House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Symsonia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Symsonia stand out
Where Symsonia beats most towns.
Small town
473 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Symsonia: who provides what
Symsonia is unincorporated, so Graves County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerJackson Purchase Energy Corporation17.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSymsonia Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesGraves CountyGraves County provides services here
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 hereGraves County ClerkGraves County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2019
ZIP code4208242082 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 Symsonia.
Natural hazards
Top of a very high hazard risk in Symsonia: earthquakes
Expected losses in Symsonia break down as 54% from earthquakes and 18% from inland flooding. Compared with four fifths of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in the town is higher. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Symsonia after 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2025.
80risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingCold waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Symsonia’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Graves County school district. Enrollment at Symsonia’s public school: 370 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symsonia Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 370 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
Work & commute
Symsonia has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
In Symsonia, the typical journey to work is 18 minutes, below both Kentucky’s towns (22 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Commuting out is the norm here: 1% of working residents work locally. The top destinations are Paducah (31%), Mayfield (14%) and Benton (4%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 13 miles.
1%work in town
| Symsonia | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 22% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Symsonia1%
Paducah31%
Mayfield14%
Benton4%
Murray3%
13 mi
median commute distance
38
jobs based in Symsonia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect mild winters and hot summers in Symsonia
A winter brings about 1 inches of snow, with January nights at 27° and July afternoons at 89°.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–47°
Spring48–69°
Summer68–88°
Fall48–71°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 5
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
Zillow puts the typical Symsonia home at about $187K
Among households in Symsonia, 85% are owner-occupiers.
$187KZillow home value
Typical home value
Symsonia$187K
Kentucky$231K
+0.6%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
Fewer of Symsonia’s adults binge drink than in the typical Kentucky or U.S. town
Just over two fifths of Symsonia adults have obesity, where Kentucky’s towns sit at 39% and U.S. towns at 35%. In Symsonia, just over a fifth of adults smoke cigarettes. Only 9 of the 142 Kentucky towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Symsonia. Of 31 CDC measures, Symsonia beats the Kentucky average on 3 and trails it on 11.
| Symsonia | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 14% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 12% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
3 better17 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Symsonia | KY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.4% | 14.2% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 85.1% | 81.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.8% | 8.2% |
Marshall County Hospital
9.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Symsonia
16pages on Symsonia
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Symsonia
About 6 of every 100 Symsonia residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kentucky.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Symsonia for work
Where Symsonia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
38jobs based in Symsonia
1%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Symsonia
Census-designated place in Kentucky, United States
Symsonia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Graves County, Kentucky, United States. The community lies in the far northeastern part of the county, 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Paducah, 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Benton, and 15 miles (24 km) northeast of the county seat Mayfield, in the Jackson Purchase region of the state. As of the 2020 census, Symsonia had a population of 622.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 410 ft
- ZIP code
- 42082
Questions about Symsonia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Symsonia, KY a good place to live?
Symsonia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.