Housing decision brief
Taylor County, KY Housing Market
Taylor County screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
77th lowest home value out of 120 Kentucky counties with data | 35th lowest rent out of 120
Median home value
$163,700
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$691/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$697/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.6x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$6/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower rent
$691/mo is 9% below Kentucky county median
Rent burden below pressure line
24.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 43.0 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Taylor County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $163,700 | $138,300 | $281,900 | 18% pressure18% above Kentucky county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $691 | $756 | $1,163 | 9% favorable9% below Kentucky county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $697 | $691 | $1,672 | Near state median1% above Kentucky county median |
Median household income | $61,871 | $55,017 | $74,755 | 12% favorable12% above Kentucky county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.72% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 28% favorable28% below Kentucky county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 24.00% | 27.00% | N/A | 11% favorable24.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$34,231
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$32,000
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Taylor County is affordable. The median rent is $691/month against a median household income of $61,871, putting rent at 13.4% of income.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Taylor County is $691/month, while owner costs run $697/month. Renting saves approximately $6/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $27,640/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $29,871/year. With a median household income of $61,871, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Taylor County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Taylor County sits 7% less expensive than Powell County ($743/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, KY | $168,300 | $696/mo | Same-state comparison near $168,300 home value and $696/mo rent. |
| Logan County, KY | $151,500 | $719/mo | Same-state comparison near $151,500 home value and $719/mo rent. |
| Owen County, KY | $165,000 | $775/mo | Same-state comparison near $165,000 home value and $775/mo rent. |
| Marion County, KY | $158,700 | $731/mo | Same-state comparison near $158,700 home value and $731/mo rent. |
| Marshall County, KY | $173,700 | $773/mo | Same-state comparison near $173,700 home value and $773/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Taylor County
Is Taylor County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Taylor County?
How much income do you need for housing in Taylor County?
What should I double-check before moving to Taylor County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.