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Kuttawa

Kuttawa

Located in Lyon County

$304,566 Average Value
$220 Average Price per Sq Ft
20 Homes For Sale

Non-stop recreation and laid-back living blend in lakeside Kuttawa

Along the banks of Lake Barkley, Kuttawa is a resort town overflowing with recreation. A non-stop calendar draws tourists, but the accessibility also makes the city an attractive option for long-term residents. "It is a retirement town, but it's not," says Justin Kimbro, executive director of Kuttawa KY Tourism Commission. "You get the best of both worlds because 40% of our population is retired, but many families also come here to vacation and end up living here." Community events keep people connected, and local businesses provide residents everyday essentials. Major highways create strong connectivity between the community and larger cities, like Eddyville and Paducah. Kuttawa's CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, lower than the national score of 4.

Locals boat, fish and hunt throughout the steady seasons

Springtime marks the beginning of lake season. Boaters cruise up and down Lake Barkley, while anglers catch largemouth bass, white crappies and bluegills. Marinas, parks and a golf course line the lake's shoreline. Silver Cliff Park has walking trails, an amphitheater and a public beach for swimming. Venture River Waterpark offers waterslides and a wave pool. As Labor Day rolls around, "life gets a little slower, but it's my job to extend vacation season once boating stops," Kimbro says. Kuttawa hosts most of its major events in September, and one final fishing tournament is held in October before hunting season begins. "Hunters flock to our short-term rentals because western Kentucky has some of the biggest bucks," Kimbro says. The calendar resets by spring, and it's time for boating season again.
Although Kuttawa is a waterfront community, Kimbro says flooding isn't common. "People call Kuttawa ‘The Mountain’ because we're so elevated," he says. "We're way up high, so there's rarely any flooding." However, when it does occasionally happen, First Street reports that residential areas have a moderate risk from flooding and roads have a severe risk.

New and Old Kuttawa offer distinct lakefront neighborhoods and homes

Kuttawa has distinct sections of new and old development. "The essence of new Kuttawa is like Seaside, Florida, where they filmed "The Truman Show," while Old Kuttawa reminds me more of Cape Cod lake town instead of an ocean town," Kimbro says. Across the community, lush trees shade spacious lots, and roads dip up and down with the area's rolling terrain. Ranch-style houses and bungalows are common, but new construction leans contemporary. Old Kuttawa lakehouses tend to have custom, lived-in designs. "Even the way people paint their trims kind of gives the homes that old, vintage look," Kimbro says. Old Kuttawa isn't the only place with lakehouses, however. "There are so many inlets, outlets, ingress and egresses, you can live on the lake anywhere in this town," Kimbro says. Home prices can vary between $100,000 and $950,000, with some properties surpassing $1 million. The city's median price is around $345,000, higher than neighboring Eddyville's median price of roughly $210,000.

Golf carts and highways offer flexible ways to get around

Residents are car-dependent but don't always use cars to get around. "You can drive golf carts anywhere within city limits," Kimbro says. Highway 62 and Interstate 24 quickly connect to Eddyville and Paducah, which is about 34 miles west. The nearest airport is Barkley Regional Airport, which is 42 miles away. The closest hospital is Caldwell County Hospital, less than 15 miles away.

Seasonal restaurants and local spots, with more choices in Eddyville

Commercial options are limited, but local businesses still thrive. Hu-B's at Kuttawa Harbor and Buzzard Rock Cafe are open seasonally, offering laid-back eats and waterfront views at the city's marinas. Other restaurants, like All American Diner and The Oasis Southwest Grill, are clustered by the highway intersection. Broadbent's is known for its smoked hams, while Dollar General has a broader selection of groceries. Businesses like The Cabin Bait & Tackle cater to recreation needs. For more shopping and dining, downtown Eddyville is nearby.

Lake season ends with concerts, carnivals and beer gardens

Summer and fall are Kuttawa's peak event seasons. "You can find live music at three to five different places every single weekend from May to September," Kimbro says. In 2025, the Bands on Barkley concert series kicked off the summer with live music at Silver Cliff Park amphitheater. The same weekend, boaters went head-to-head at the annual Kuttawa Cannonball Run. Residents close out lake season with three major events at the end of September. Bands play at the Live on the Lawn concert series while locals enjoy Oktoberfest beer gardens. The Kuttawa Days Celebration rounds out the weekend with carnival rides, movies in the park and glow-in-the-dark kayaking.

Lyon County students attend one school campus

Students attend Lyon County Elementary, Middle and High schools. The schools share one campus and have B, B-plus and B-minus scores from Niche, respectively. At Lyon Middle, students can take advanced placement courses through Lyon High to earn credits toward graduation.

Isabel Butler
Written By
Isabel Butler

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Kuttawa Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$374,900
Median Sale Price
$315,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$357,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$650,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$350,250
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
31
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-5%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$220

Area Facts

Number of Homes
730
Number of Homes for Sale
20
Median Year Built
1996
Months of Supply
7.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,717
Below the national average
1,926
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,577
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,303
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
805
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
21,780

Homes for Sale

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Kuttawa Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
694
Median Age
59
Population under 18
16.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
39.9%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$49,624
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$67,033

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
85.6%
College Graduates
20.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.6%
% Population in Labor Force
31.8%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
3''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

25 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

0 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Kuttawa
Travis Martin
Legacy Real Estate Co.
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