Downtown, 2003
Wickliffe’s story
147 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2003.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1879Wickliffe is settled
WickliffeKY
Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo: Ichabod · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
647
2025 Census estimate · −2.6% since 2020
Typical home
$133K
−6% in a year
Household income
$35K
median
Median age
35.2
years
Jobs based here
371
Balanced
Is Wickliffe a good place to live?
Its National Register listings include Ballard County Courthouse and Trimble House. Wickliffe has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Wickliffe stand out
Where Wickliffe beats most towns.
Small town
647 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 Wickliffe: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wickliffe, and how to reach them.
PowerKU11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWickliffe Municipal Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Wickliffe’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 hereBallard County ClerkBallard County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2019
ZIP code4208742087 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 Wickliffe.
Housing
Wickliffe’s typical home value is about $133K
70% of Wickliffe households live in a home they own, above Kentucky’s towns (59%) and close to U.S. towns (73%). Values fell 6% in the year to September 2026.
$133KZillow home value
Typical home value
Wickliffe$133K
Kentucky$231K
−6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Branch Christian Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 40 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
Wickliffe faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Households in Wickliffe have drawn federal disaster aid in 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2025. Storm and flood damage is expected to run higher than in 84% of U.S. communities. This Kentucky town has had 25 paid flood insurance claims since 1979. FEMA puts 36% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to earthquakes, and 19% to drought.
84risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesDroughtInland flooding
25
paid flood claims since 1979
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
The climate in Wickliffe brings four seasons and hot summers
In Wickliffe, the midsummer high is 89°F, above both the Kentucky town median (87°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
9″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–47°
Spring48–69°
Summer67–88°
Fall48–70°
Oct 31
typical first frost
Apr 2
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Wickliffe stands out in Kentucky and nationally: the average trip to work there is longer
Among 143 Kentucky towns, just 6 have a lower typical household income than Wickliffe. For residents in the town, the share who live below the poverty line is 38%. Jobs based in Wickliffe grew to 371 in 2023, 182 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Paducah (25%), Kevil (3%) and La Center (3%).
4%work in town
| Wickliffe | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 38% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 34 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $35,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.4% | 15% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Wickliffe4%
Paducah25%
Kevil3%
La Center3%
Calvert City3%
24 mi
median commute distance
371
jobs based in Wickliffe
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Wickliffe is
Wickliffe: 42% of adults have high blood pressure. 21% of Wickliffe adults smoke cigarettes.
| Wickliffe | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 12% |
31 measures vs. Kentucky
0 better25 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Wickliffe | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 25.3% | 18.9% |
| More uninsured adults | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.9% | 10.2% |
Massac Memorial Hospital
23.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
In Wickliffe, 6.5% of the land is conserved
Wickliffe has one park or preserve, 18 acres in all.
6.5%conserved
6.5%
conserved · 64 of 992 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site | — | 18 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 9 attractions →Fort Defiance and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Wickliffe. Close and well known come first.
4 mi Ancient siteFort Defiance
6 mi MuseumMagnolia Manor
34 mi Ancient siteKincaid Mounds State Historic Site37 mi MuseumDiscovery Park of America
14 mi MuseumColumbus-Belmont State Park
6 mi MuseumMagnolia Manor34 mi Ancient siteKincaid Mounds State Historic Site37 mi MuseumDiscovery Park of America14 mi MuseumColumbus-Belmont State ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Magnolia Manor: MuZemike, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site: Herb Roe, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Columbus-Belmont State Park: Knowledgeum at en.wikipedia, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wickliffe
19pages on Wickliffe
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Wickliffe; the nearest are
Shawnee Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ullin, IL21.2 mi$4,650 in-state tuitionSoutheast Missouri State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Cape Girardeau, MO34.4 mi$9,903 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Wickliffe residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
About Wickliffe
City in Kentucky, United States
Wickliffe is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Ballard County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 670 at the 2020 census. Wickliffe is part of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 354 ft
- ZIP code
- 42087
Questions about Wickliffe
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wickliffe, KY a good place to live?
Wickliffe has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.