Kentucky Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 120 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$771/mo
Average Home Value
$150,167
Average Owner Cost
$734/mo
County cost atlas
Kentucky housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
120
Avg rent
$771/mo
Owner cost
$734/mo
Avg score
67.5
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Kentucky: An Overview
The median rent in Kentucky is $771 per month, which is 34% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Kentucky, housing costs vary significantly by county. Boone County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,253 per month and a median home value of $253,200. Elliott County has the lowest reported median rent at $427 per month and a median home value of $97,400.
The average home value across Kentucky counties is $150,167, 47% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $55,909, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Kentucky, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Kentucky
How median rents are spread across 120 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Kentucky Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | Moderate$1,253/mo | $253,200 | $1,313/mo | 13.6 | 26.0% |
| Scott County | Moderate$1,181/mo | $264,200 | $1,314/mo | 14.9 | 26.0% |
| Oldham County | Moderate$1,142/mo | $375,000 | $1,665/mo | 12.1 | 25.0% |
| Fayette County | Moderate$1,101/mo | $272,100 | $1,255/mo | 18.3 | 29.0% |
| Jefferson County | Moderate$1,097/mo | $237,200 | $1,192/mo | 19.8 | 28.0% |
| Campbell County | Moderate$1,079/mo | $234,500 | $1,217/mo | 19.9 | 29.0% |
| Kenton County | Moderate$1,018/mo | $227,500 | $1,262/mo | 20.9 | 27.0% |
| Simpson County | Moderate$1,011/mo | $195,700 | $943/mo | 31.8 | 28.0% |
| Woodford County | Moderate$1,000/mo | $270,400 | $1,058/mo | 27.5 | 28.0% |
| Christian County | Affordable$999/mo | $149,200 | $853/mo | 37.7 | 29.0% |
| Shelby County | Affordable$998/mo | $277,500 | $1,272/mo | 21.8 | 24.0% |
| Jessamine County | Affordable$994/mo | $245,100 | $1,147/mo | 25.1 | 25.0% |
| Meade County | Affordable$976/mo | $195,000 | $893/mo | 36.1 | 24.0% |
| Bullitt County | Affordable$973/mo | $233,700 | $1,161/mo | 25.7 | 27.0% |
| Warren County | Affordable$963/mo | $242,600 | $1,094/mo | 28.5 | 28.0% |
| Spencer County | Affordable$954/mo | $297,600 | $1,410/mo | 22.5 | 27.0% |
| Hardin County | Affordable$947/mo | $205,900 | $988/mo | 33.4 | 23.0% |
| Franklin County | Affordable$946/mo | $198,700 | $982/mo | 33.7 | 26.0% |
| Trimble County | Affordable$935/mo | $172,700 | $712/mo | 51.8 | 20.0% |
| Nelson County | Affordable$932/mo | $224,100 | $944/mo | 36.5 | 26.0% |
| Livingston County | Affordable$912/mo | $116,300 | $591/mo | 62.0 | 28.0% |
| Daviess County | Affordable$906/mo | $185,800 | $964/mo | 37.5 | 26.0% |
| Clark County | Affordable$883/mo | $197,900 | $1,049/mo | 35.9 | 28.0% |
| Henry County | Affordable$871/mo | $181,300 | $1,001/mo | 38.8 | 32.0% |
| Anderson County | Affordable$870/mo | $213,200 | $954/mo | 41.0 | 32.0% |
| McCracken County | Affordable$861/mo | $182,900 | $851/mo | 48.0 | 27.0% |
| Gallatin County | Affordable$858/mo | $169,400 | $699/mo | 59.1 | 26.0% |
| Grant County | Affordable$855/mo | $185,500 | $750/mo | 56.0 | 24.0% |
| Carroll County | Affordable$853/mo | $129,800 | $690/mo | 60.8 | 23.0% |
| Madison County | Affordable$851/mo | $220,700 | $1,075/mo | 38.4 | 27.0% |
| Hopkins County | Affordable$841/mo | $128,800 | $693/mo | 61.5 | 25.0% |
| Todd County | Affordable$841/mo | $157,400 | $741/mo | 58.2 | 23.0% |
| Boyd County | Affordable$839/mo | $126,300 | $854/mo | 50.1 | 28.0% |
| Pike County | Affordable$837/mo | $104,200 | $540/mo | 72.4 | 34.0% |
| Greenup County | Affordable$836/mo | $135,300 | $690/mo | 62.6 | 25.0% |
| Pulaski County | Affordable$835/mo | $156,300 | $687/mo | 63.0 | 29.0% |
| Calloway County | Affordable$828/mo | $181,200 | $750/mo | 58.8 | 28.0% |
| Ballard County | Affordable$826/mo | $132,900 | $784/mo | 56.5 | 21.0% |
| Larue County | Affordable$816/mo | $177,500 | $918/mo | 48.5 | 23.0% |
| Rowan County | Affordable$815/mo | $155,900 | $707/mo | 63.2 | 28.0% |
| Lyon County | Affordable$809/mo | $183,600 | $762/mo | 59.9 | 22.0% |
| Mercer County | Affordable$802/mo | $189,700 | $848/mo | 55.0 | 23.0% |
| Trigg County | Affordable$802/mo | $192,000 | $777/mo | 59.9 | 26.0% |
| Pendleton County | Affordable$800/mo | $160,800 | $827/mo | 57.1 | 22.0% |
| Montgomery County | Affordable$796/mo | $163,800 | $846/mo | 56.2 | 22.0% |
| Perry County | Affordable$795/mo | $90,700 | $548/mo | 77.3 | 30.0% |
| Henderson County | Affordable$794/mo | $165,700 | $876/mo | 54.0 | 28.0% |
| Garrard County | Affordable$793/mo | $186,800 | $891/mo | 53.3 | 30.0% |
| Carlisle County | Affordable$792/mo | $104,700 | $678/mo | 69.0 | 26.0% |
| Laurel County | Affordable$789/mo | $143,400 | $647/mo | 71.6 | 27.0% |
| Union County | Affordable$787/mo | $109,000 | $644/mo | 72.0 | 23.0% |
| Barren County | Affordable$784/mo | $166,900 | $798/mo | 61.0 | 28.0% |
| Adair County | Affordable$775/mo | $134,800 | $550/mo | 79.6 | 28.0% |
| Owen County | Affordable$775/mo | $165,000 | $736/mo | 66.7 | 23.0% |
| Ohio County | Affordable$774/mo | $113,400 | $620/mo | 75.0 | 20.0% |
| Webster County | Affordable$774/mo | $97,600 | $577/mo | 78.0 | 17.0% |
| Marshall County | Affordable$773/mo | $173,700 | $804/mo | 62.1 | 31.0% |
| Boyle County | Affordable$770/mo | $200,700 | $880/mo | 57.0 | 27.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$758/mo | $107,000 | $514/mo | 83.4 | 25.0% |
| Lewis County | Affordable$757/mo | $86,100 | $493/mo | 84.5 | 25.0% |
| Harrison County | Affordable$755/mo | $188,900 | $807/mo | 64.1 | 26.0% |
| Hancock County | Affordable$752/mo | $137,600 | $726/mo | 70.3 | 26.0% |
| Allen County | Affordable$750/mo | $176,300 | $665/mo | 75.1 | 28.0% |
| Bracken County | Affordable$748/mo | $116,400 | $844/mo | 62.1 | 25.0% |
| Bourbon County | Affordable$745/mo | $211,600 | $985/mo | 54.3 | 27.0% |
| Powell County | Affordable$743/mo | $142,400 | $666/mo | 75.8 | 34.0% |
| Edmonson County | Affordable$739/mo | $136,600 | $516/mo | 85.4 | 23.0% |
| Knott County | Affordable$731/mo | $74,600 | $425/mo | 89.1 | 32.0% |
| Marion County | Affordable$731/mo | $158,700 | $741/mo | 71.5 | 28.0% |
| Breckinridge County | Affordable$730/mo | $141,400 | $623/mo | 80.0 | 24.0% |
| Lincoln County | Affordable$730/mo | $139,300 | $597/mo | 81.7 | 27.0% |
| Lawrence County | Affordable$729/mo | $108,100 | $526/mo | 86.3 | 30.0% |
| Caldwell County | Affordable$724/mo | $113,500 | $646/mo | 79.5 | 26.0% |
| Mason County | Affordable$724/mo | $157,500 | $712/mo | 74.4 | 24.0% |
| Whitley County | Affordable$720/mo | $120,600 | $539/mo | 86.7 | 26.0% |
| Logan County | Affordable$719/mo | $151,500 | $778/mo | 70.1 | 25.0% |
| Hickman County | Affordable$717/mo | $92,300 | $585/mo | 84.2 | 20.0% |
| Floyd County | Affordable$713/mo | $93,300 | $539/mo | 87.4 | 28.0% |
| Graves County | Affordable$713/mo | $139,000 | $741/mo | 73.7 | 29.0% |
| Muhlenberg County | Affordable$712/mo | $121,300 | $650/mo | 80.7 | 28.0% |
| Carter County | Affordable$701/mo | $126,100 | $559/mo | 87.4 | 27.0% |
| Clay County | Affordable$698/mo | $87,300 | $456/mo | 91.9 | 34.0% |
| Johnson County | Affordable$698/mo | $125,300 | $594/mo | 85.2 | 29.0% |
| Washington County | Affordable$696/mo | $168,300 | $803/mo | 70.5 | 30.0% |
| Hart County | Affordable$692/mo | $124,600 | $691/mo | 78.9 | 21.0% |
| Taylor County | Affordable$691/mo | $163,700 | $697/mo | 78.4 | 24.0% |
| Estill County | Affordable$689/mo | $111,900 | $607/mo | 84.8 | 25.0% |
| Butler County | Affordable$688/mo | $105,500 | $549/mo | 89.1 | 27.0% |
| Rockcastle County | Affordable$678/mo | $119,300 | $457/mo | 93.3 | 23.0% |
| Fleming County | Affordable$677/mo | $115,200 | $560/mo | 89.1 | 29.0% |
| Morgan County | Affordable$670/mo | $106,000 | $596/mo | 87.0 | 26.0% |
| Wayne County | Affordable$666/mo | $121,700 | $514/mo | 92.0 | 26.0% |
| Russell County | Affordable$660/mo | $148,200 | $562/mo | 90.1 | 29.0% |
| Nicholas County | Affordable$654/mo | $119,600 | $633/mo | 85.4 | 21.0% |
| Grayson County | Affordable$653/mo | $160,100 | $648/mo | 84.8 | 23.0% |
| Harlan County | Affordable$651/mo | $73,100 | $439/mo | 95.3 | 29.0% |
| Letcher County | Affordable$651/mo | $70,500 | $473/mo | 94.3 | 28.0% |
| Casey County | Affordable$645/mo | $135,700 | $468/mo | 94.8 | 32.0% |
| Menifee County | Affordable$634/mo | $111,500 | $464/mo | 95.5 | 28.0% |
| Magoffin County | Affordable$633/mo | $88,300 | $473/mo | 95.1 | 30.0% |
| Knox County | Affordable$631/mo | $109,200 | $492/mo | 94.6 | 28.0% |
| Clinton County | Affordable$629/mo | $114,000 | $508/mo | 93.9 | 24.0% |
| Monroe County | Affordable$629/mo | $116,300 | $623/mo | 87.2 | 26.0% |
| Crittenden County | Affordable$618/mo | $115,700 | $495/mo | 95.0 | 18.0% |
| Bell County | Affordable$617/mo | $83,000 | $391/mo | 97.3 | 32.0% |
| Green County | Affordable$612/mo | $118,900 | $559/mo | 92.6 | 26.0% |
| McLean County | Affordable$602/mo | $145,600 | $697/mo | 83.0 | 23.0% |
| Bath County | Affordable$600/mo | $111,800 | $804/mo | 75.5 | 21.0% |
| Lee County | Affordable$593/mo | $82,100 | $471/mo | 96.8 | 32.0% |
| McCreary County | Affordable$588/mo | $77,000 | $472/mo | 96.9 | 28.0% |
| Cumberland County | Affordable$553/mo | $128,600 | $485/mo | 97.0 | 23.0% |
| Owsley County | Affordable$551/mo | $79,900 | $409/mo | 98.7 | 27.0% |
| Metcalfe County | Affordable$549/mo | $103,100 | $558/mo | 93.8 | 23.0% |
| Breathitt County | Affordable$543/mo | $61,800 | $450/mo | 98.3 | 28.0% |
| Robertson County | Affordable$543/mo | $123,400 | $742/mo | 81.0 | 13.0% |
| Fulton County | Affordable$542/mo | $78,100 | $560/mo | 93.9 | 32.0% |
| Leslie County | Affordable$520/mo | $74,100 | $452/mo | 98.4 | 31.0% |
| Wolfe County | Affordable$507/mo | $66,400 | $391/mo | 99.3 | 39.0% |
| Martin County | Affordable$441/mo | $84,900 | $438/mo | 99.2 | 49.0% |
| Elliott County | Affordable$427/mo | $97,400 | $589/mo | 92.4 | 35.0% |
Compare Kentucky to Other States
See how Kentucky counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Kentucky?
What is the most expensive county to live in Kentucky?
How does Kentucky's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Kentucky?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.