County housing intelligence
Kentucky Housing Market by County
Kentucky is not one housing market. Across 120 counties, the median county home value is $138,300 and the median county rent is $756/mo. The useful question is not whether Kentucky is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$138,300
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$756/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
120
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Kentucky Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
Oldham County, Spencer County, Shelby County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Breathitt County, Wolfe County, Letcher County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Boone County, Scott County, Oldham County lead on rent, while Elliott County, Martin County, Wolfe County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Hickman County, Breathitt County, Carlisle County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Breathitt County
$61,800
- 2. Wolfe County
$66,400
- 3. Letcher County
$70,500
- 4. Harlan County
$73,100
- 5. Leslie County
$74,100
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Hickman County
1.4x home-value-to-income
- 2. Breathitt County
1.5x home-value-to-income
- 3. Carlisle County
1.7x home-value-to-income
- 4. Letcher County
1.7x home-value-to-income
- 5. Webster County
1.7x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Elliott County
$427/mo
- 2. Martin County
$441/mo
- 3. Wolfe County
$507/mo
- 4. Leslie County
$520/mo
- 5. Fulton County
$542/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Robertson County
13.0% rent burden
- 2. Webster County
17.0% rent burden
- 3. Crittenden County
18.0% rent burden
- 4. Hickman County
20.0% rent burden
- 5. Ohio County
20.0% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Rockcastle County
0.48% effective tax rate
- 2. Carter County
0.49% effective tax rate
- 3. Menifee County
0.50% effective tax rate
- 4. Caldwell County
0.52% effective tax rate
- 5. Clinton County
0.55% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Livingston County
$321/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Knott County
$306/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Pike County
$297/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Lewis County
$264/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Perry County
$247/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Hickman County
$63,750 income, 1.4x value-to-income
- 2. Oldham County
$121,491 income, 3.1x value-to-income
- 3. Carlisle County
$62,019 income, 1.7x value-to-income
- 4. Boone County
$94,752 income, 2.7x value-to-income
- 5. Webster County
$58,786 income, 1.7x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Breathitt County $61,800 home value, $41,101 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Kenton County $227,500 home value, 1.00% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Martin County $441/mo rent, 49.00% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Oldham County $375,000 home value, $121,491 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Lowest home values
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Kentucky County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickman County | $92,300 | $717/mo | $63,750 | 1.4x | 0.82% |
| Breathitt County | $61,800 | $543/mo | $41,101 | 1.5x | 0.84% |
| Carlisle County | $104,700 | $792/mo | $62,019 | 1.7x | 0.85% |
| Letcher County | $70,500 | $651/mo | $40,501 | 1.7x | 0.93% |
| Webster County | $97,600 | $774/mo | $58,786 | 1.7x | 0.98% |
| Leslie County | $74,100 | $520/mo | $40,176 | 1.8x | 0.72% |
| Martin County | $84,900 | $441/mo | $46,185 | 1.8x | 0.77% |
| Union County | $109,000 | $787/mo | $60,989 | 1.8x | 0.79% |
| Livingston County | $116,300 | $912/mo | $59,713 | 1.9x | 0.63% |
| Bracken County | $116,400 | $748/mo | $59,521 | 2.0x | 0.94% |
| Butler County | $105,500 | $688/mo | $52,003 | 2.0x | 0.56% |
| Caldwell County | $113,500 | $724/mo | $57,618 | 2.0x | 0.52% |
| Harlan County | $73,100 | $651/mo | $37,198 | 2.0x | 0.99% |
| Knott County | $74,600 | $731/mo | $37,736 | 2.0x | 0.72% |
| Perry County | $90,700 | $795/mo | $45,261 | 2.0x | 0.73% |
| Ballard County | $132,900 | $826/mo | $64,740 | 2.1x | 0.80% |
| Bath County | $111,800 | $600/mo | $54,128 | 2.1x | 0.73% |
| Boyd County | $126,300 | $839/mo | $60,659 | 2.1x | 0.98% |
| Fulton County | $78,100 | $542/mo | $36,834 | 2.1x | 0.72% |
| Hancock County | $137,600 | $752/mo | $66,836 | 2.1x | 0.68% |
| Lewis County | $86,100 | $757/mo | $41,632 | 2.1x | 0.65% |
| McCreary County | $77,000 | $588/mo | $37,355 | 2.1x | 0.73% |
| McLean County | $145,600 | $602/mo | $70,549 | 2.1x | 0.68% |
| Metcalfe County | $103,100 | $549/mo | $48,572 | 2.1x | 0.72% |
| Ohio County | $113,400 | $774/mo | $54,369 | 2.1x | 0.61% |
| Carroll County | $129,800 | $853/mo | $57,753 | 2.2x | 0.76% |
| Clay County | $87,300 | $698/mo | $39,607 | 2.2x | 0.69% |
| Floyd County | $93,300 | $713/mo | $41,582 | 2.2x | 0.75% |
| Hopkins County | $128,800 | $841/mo | $57,610 | 2.2x | 0.82% |
| Morgan County | $106,000 | $670/mo | $47,493 | 2.2x | 0.76% |
| Nicholas County | $119,600 | $654/mo | $53,616 | 2.2x | 0.57% |
| Fleming County | $115,200 | $677/mo | $49,663 | 2.3x | 0.72% |
| Greenup County | $135,300 | $836/mo | $59,613 | 2.3x | 0.94% |
| Muhlenberg County | $121,300 | $712/mo | $52,672 | 2.3x | 0.69% |
| Wolfe County | $66,400 | $507/mo | $29,052 | 2.3x | 0.59% |
| Elliott County | $97,400 | $427/mo | $40,074 | 2.4x | 0.69% |
| Lawrence County | $108,100 | $729/mo | $45,584 | 2.4x | 0.68% |
| Lee County | $82,100 | $593/mo | $34,182 | 2.4x | 0.85% |
| Monroe County | $116,300 | $629/mo | $49,430 | 2.4x | 0.77% |
| Pendleton County | $160,800 | $800/mo | $66,601 | 2.4x | 0.77% |
| Robertson County | $123,400 | $543/mo | $52,337 | 2.4x | 0.67% |
| Carter County | $126,100 | $701/mo | $50,389 | 2.5x | 0.49% |
| Crittenden County | $115,700 | $618/mo | $47,003 | 2.5x | 0.56% |
| Edmonson County | $136,600 | $739/mo | $54,512 | 2.5x | 0.58% |
| Estill County | $111,900 | $689/mo | $43,905 | 2.5x | 0.69% |
| Hart County | $124,600 | $692/mo | $49,653 | 2.5x | 0.75% |
| Laurel County | $143,400 | $789/mo | $56,999 | 2.5x | 0.59% |
| Logan County | $151,500 | $719/mo | $61,535 | 2.5x | 0.62% |
| Menifee County | $111,500 | $634/mo | $44,672 | 2.5x | 0.50% |
| Pike County | $104,200 | $837/mo | $42,179 | 2.5x | 0.73% |
| Rockcastle County | $119,300 | $678/mo | $48,367 | 2.5x | 0.48% |
| Trimble County | $172,700 | $935/mo | $67,813 | 2.5x | 0.68% |
| Bell County | $83,000 | $617/mo | $32,403 | 2.6x | 0.74% |
| Breckinridge County | $141,400 | $730/mo | $53,673 | 2.6x | 0.60% |
| Jackson County | $107,000 | $758/mo | $41,410 | 2.6x | 0.64% |
| Larue County | $177,500 | $816/mo | $67,770 | 2.6x | 0.63% |
| Magoffin County | $88,300 | $633/mo | $33,632 | 2.6x | 0.73% |
| Owsley County | $79,900 | $551/mo | $31,064 | 2.6x | 0.70% |
| Taylor County | $163,700 | $691/mo | $61,871 | 2.6x | 0.72% |
| Adair County | $134,800 | $775/mo | $50,316 | 2.7x | 0.68% |
| Boone County | $253,200 | $1,253/mo | $94,752 | 2.7x | 0.90% |
| Clinton County | $114,000 | $629/mo | $42,168 | 2.7x | 0.55% |
| Gallatin County | $169,400 | $858/mo | $62,247 | 2.7x | 0.81% |
| Grant County | $185,500 | $855/mo | $67,940 | 2.7x | 0.72% |
| Graves County | $139,000 | $713/mo | $50,576 | 2.7x | 0.67% |
| Lincoln County | $139,300 | $730/mo | $50,862 | 2.7x | 0.73% |
| Marshall County | $173,700 | $773/mo | $63,611 | 2.7x | 0.72% |
| Todd County | $157,400 | $841/mo | $57,759 | 2.7x | 0.55% |
| Christian County | $149,200 | $999/mo | $54,190 | 2.8x | 0.71% |
| Daviess County | $185,800 | $906/mo | $65,323 | 2.8x | 0.86% |
| Henderson County | $165,700 | $794/mo | $58,239 | 2.8x | 0.88% |
| Lyon County | $183,600 | $809/mo | $64,464 | 2.8x | 0.55% |
| Meade County | $195,000 | $976/mo | $70,163 | 2.8x | 0.71% |
| Owen County | $165,000 | $775/mo | $59,706 | 2.8x | 0.75% |
| Washington County | $168,300 | $696/mo | $59,762 | 2.8x | 0.72% |
| Clark County | $197,900 | $883/mo | $67,824 | 2.9x | 0.73% |
| Green County | $118,900 | $612/mo | $41,087 | 2.9x | 0.63% |
| Johnson County | $125,300 | $698/mo | $43,014 | 2.9x | 0.64% |
| Kenton County | $227,500 | $1,018/mo | $79,421 | 2.9x | 1.00% |
| Marion County | $158,700 | $731/mo | $55,404 | 2.9x | 0.71% |
| McCracken County | $182,900 | $861/mo | $62,385 | 2.9x | 0.73% |
| Montgomery County | $163,800 | $796/mo | $57,468 | 2.9x | 0.75% |
| Rowan County | $155,900 | $815/mo | $53,657 | 2.9x | 0.55% |
| Russell County | $148,200 | $660/mo | $50,520 | 2.9x | 0.59% |
| Wayne County | $121,700 | $666/mo | $41,933 | 2.9x | 0.58% |
| Whitley County | $120,600 | $720/mo | $41,719 | 2.9x | 0.66% |
| Allen County | $176,300 | $750/mo | $59,029 | 3.0x | 0.55% |
| Anderson County | $213,200 | $870/mo | $71,747 | 3.0x | 0.80% |
| Bullitt County | $233,700 | $973/mo | $77,640 | 3.0x | 0.85% |
| Campbell County | $234,500 | $1,079/mo | $77,271 | 3.0x | 1.06% |
| Franklin County | $198,700 | $946/mo | $66,470 | 3.0x | 0.84% |
| Garrard County | $186,800 | $793/mo | $62,572 | 3.0x | 0.72% |
| Hardin County | $205,900 | $947/mo | $67,608 | 3.0x | 0.70% |
| Harrison County | $188,900 | $755/mo | $63,205 | 3.0x | 0.68% |
| Henry County | $181,300 | $871/mo | $60,736 | 3.0x | 0.82% |
| Mercer County | $189,700 | $802/mo | $63,115 | 3.0x | 0.82% |
| Spencer County | $297,600 | $954/mo | $98,333 | 3.0x | 0.71% |
| Mason County | $157,500 | $724/mo | $51,473 | 3.1x | 0.63% |
| Oldham County | $375,000 | $1,142/mo | $121,491 | 3.1x | 0.92% |
| Pulaski County | $156,300 | $835/mo | $50,943 | 3.1x | 0.65% |
| Cumberland County | $128,600 | $553/mo | $39,662 | 3.2x | 0.61% |
| Grayson County | $160,100 | $653/mo | $49,893 | 3.2x | 0.56% |
| Scott County | $264,200 | $1,181/mo | $83,660 | 3.2x | 0.68% |
| Boyle County | $200,700 | $770/mo | $61,635 | 3.3x | 0.85% |
| Casey County | $135,700 | $645/mo | $41,689 | 3.3x | 0.60% |
| Jessamine County | $245,100 | $994/mo | $74,886 | 3.3x | 0.77% |
| Knox County | $109,200 | $631/mo | $33,153 | 3.3x | 0.74% |
| Nelson County | $224,100 | $932/mo | $67,888 | 3.3x | 0.80% |
| Barren County | $166,900 | $784/mo | $49,171 | 3.4x | 0.73% |
| Shelby County | $277,500 | $998/mo | $82,671 | 3.4x | 0.81% |
| Simpson County | $195,700 | $1,011/mo | $57,392 | 3.4x | 0.64% |
| Woodford County | $270,400 | $1,000/mo | $80,006 | 3.4x | 0.74% |
| Calloway County | $181,200 | $828/mo | $51,854 | 3.5x | 0.67% |
| Jefferson County | $237,200 | $1,097/mo | $67,849 | 3.5x | 0.85% |
| Madison County | $220,700 | $851/mo | $62,407 | 3.5x | 0.74% |
| Trigg County | $192,000 | $802/mo | $54,630 | 3.5x | 0.55% |
| Powell County | $142,400 | $743/mo | $39,811 | 3.6x | 0.58% |
| Warren County | $242,600 | $963/mo | $64,801 | 3.7x | 0.64% |
| Bourbon County | $211,600 | $745/mo | $56,322 | 3.8x | 0.74% |
| Fayette County | $272,100 | $1,101/mo | $67,631 | 4.0x | 0.89% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Kentucky by county?
What is the typical rent in Kentucky by county?
Which Kentucky counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.