Mayfield, KY Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Mayfield, KY: What You Need to Know

Mayfield is the seat of Graves County in western Kentucky. The city’s history is associated with a juicy legend that involves a kidnapping and daring escape.

Local History

Mayfield is part of the Jackson Purchase, land negotiated by former Kentucky Gov. Isaac Shelby and Andrew Jackson (before he became president) with the Chickasaw people in 1818. Three years later, Mayfield was established as Graves County seat. Legend has it that Mayfield got its name from George Mayfield, a wealthy Mississippian kidnapped while visiting Kentucky. Mayfield carved his name on a tree to alert people about his whereabouts while his kidnappers waited for the ransom. Unfortunately, he was shot while trying to escape, and he fell into a creek where he drowned. Settlers named both the town and the creek Mayfield. 

Things to Do in Mayfield

The Wooldridge Monument falls under the category of weird-but-amazing attractions. Located in the Maplewood Cemetery, the monument consists of 18 life-size statues around Henry Wooldridge’s tomb. The figures, carved from Italian marble and sandstone, commemorate the Wooldridge family, including Henry himself. Enjoy the picturesque landscape and go fishing at Kess Creek Park Lake, which is stocked regularly with catfish and rainbow trout as part of the Fishing in the Neighborhoods program.

Cost of Living

Mayfield (population: 9,817) is a small gem of a city with a cost of living that’s 14.9% lower than the national average. Food and housing costs are equally inexpensive – 28.3% and 29.9% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent is $624. Kentucky’s 5% income tax rate and 6% sales tax rate are slightly below the national average. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

Residents attest that their hometown offers the best of country living, with outstanding schools and amenities. Although there’s no nightlife to speak of, it’s easy to get to big cities such as Lexington, St. Louis, and Nashville. More than half of city residents (52%) rent. Nearby Wingo and Fancy Farm are even smaller than Mayfield, but they have good schools and a safe environment. Wingo’s “Rails to Trails” hiking and biking path is a major draw.

Weather and Climate

Mayfield receives only six inches of snow per year versus the U.S. average of 28 inches. One time, it wasn’t the amount of snowfall but the severity of the snowstorm that devastated Mayfield, western Kentucky, and parts of Missouri and Illinois. On Jan. 27, 2009, an ice storm caused record power outages, fallen trees, collapsed house roofs, and 14 storm-related fatalities in the region.