Murray is a home rule-class city in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States. It is the seat of Calloway County and the 19th-largest city in Kentucky. The city's population was 17,307 during the 2020 U.S. census, and its micropolitan area's population is 37,191. Murray is a college town and is the home of Murray State University.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Murray ranks

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#1Most conserved land in KY #2Shortest commute in KY #7Best schools in KY All KY rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code42071

Area code270, 364

Living in Murray

Housing in Murray

$209K▼ 1.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Murray home is worth about $209,000, down 1.4% in a year, 10% below the Kentucky typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market37

Sale-to-list98.4%

Sold in May24

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Murray

B⁻

Safety Grade B-

Murray reports less crime per resident than 54% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade. Kentucky has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Murray sits closer to the middle.

Violent crime per 1,000

Murray 1.1

Kentucky 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Murray 8.7

Kentucky 12.8

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Murray

Full picture →

41% of Murray’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Paducah (6%), Mayfield (3%) and Benton (2%). Half commute less than 3 miles.

Paducah

Mayfield

Benton

Lexington-Fayette urban county

41%Work in townlive and work in Murray 3 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 9,509Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Murray →

Health in Murray

Compared with Kentucky

1worse than KY

of 5 measures CDC estimates. The other 4 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

52.9%Fewer adults seeing a dentistKY 58.1% · worse

Care nearby

Murray-Calloway County HospitalMurray · 0.8 mi · ER

Kentuckycare - 128Murray · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Murray · CMS · HRSAHealth in Murray →

Natural hazards in Murray

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

20Does Murray flood?paid flood claims since 1978 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Murray

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Murray →

Climate in Murray

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Murray has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 7 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 30°Winter

69° / 47°Spring

87° / 67°Summer

70° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Murray get?About 7 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 1, with the last in spring around Apr 5.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Murray →

Schools in Murray

All Murray schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Murray’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 94% of Kentucky’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#7Best public schoolsof 126 in KY

DistrictMurray IndependentSchools7

Murray Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–3 · 589 students Murray Middle School A+Middle · Grades 4–8 · 645 students Murray High School AHigh · Grades 9–12 · 607 students Calloway County Alternative Program D-High · Grades 6–12 · 110 students Calloway County Day TreatmentHigh · Grades 6–12 · 7 students Murray/Calloway County Area Tech CenterHigh · Grades 8–12

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within KY. Ratings are from neighbors.