CostBy County

Cost of Living in Metcalfe County, Kentucky

$582/mo
Median Monthly Rent
$110,200
Median Home Value

At a Glance

Median Monthly Rent
$582/mo
27% below state average
Median Home Value
$110,200
67% below national
Census GRAPI
26.1%
Median gross rent as % of renter income

Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)

Affordability Rating
Affordable
Median gross rent is under 30% of renter household income

These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.

How Metcalfe County Compares

Median monthly rent comparison

Metcalfe County$582/mo
Kentucky Average$793/mo
National Median$1,413/mo

Detailed Housing Stats

$582/mo
Median Gross Rent
$110,200
Median Home Value
$570/mo
Monthly Owner Cost
26.1%
Census GRAPI

National Ranking

Affordability Rank

Metcalfe County ranks #97 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 3%)

Most AffordableLeast Affordable

Sourced county brief

Metcalfe County Median Gross Rent Lower Than State Unweighted Mean

Metcalfe County reported a median gross rent of $582 per month, a figure that is $211 below the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $793. The official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income was estimated at 26.1%, which is 1.1 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 27.2%. In the owner-occupied sector, the median home value was $110,200, compared to the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $160,835. Median selected monthly owner costs were $570, while the state unweighted county mean stood at $753. The median renter-household income was recorded at $21,411. This data represents a specific five-year snapshot from the U.S. Census Bureau and does not provide investment or purchase recommendations. All figures are presented as reported in the ACS 2020-2024 estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.

Cost of Living Advisory: Metcalfe County

Affordability Verdict

ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.1% of renter household income in Metcalfe County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.

Rent vs. Own

Median gross rent is $582 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $570. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.

Income Needed

Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $23,280 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.

Regional Context

The Kentucky unweighted mean of county median rents is $793 per month. Metcalfe County's $582 median is 26.6% below that comparison value.

Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2

Affordability Calculator

See how your income compares to housing costs in Metcalfe County

$

Rent Burden

13.6%

of gross income

Max Housing (28% Rule)

$1,201

per month

Owner Cost Burden

13.3%

of gross income

You can likely afford the median home in Metcalfe County

Median home value is $110,200. Estimated monthly cost: $880 vs. your max of $1,201.

Rent Affordability Guide

Your entered rent as a share of entered income13.6%
Recommended max30.0%

Income Needed Calculator

See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing

$
Rent Affordability

$0/yr

Needed to stay within recommended threshold

Median income:$0/yr
Can you afford it? Yes
Your income: $51,473Needed: $23,280
Owner Cost Affordability

$0/yr

Needed to stay within recommended threshold

Median income:$0/yr
Can you afford it? Yes
Your income: $51,473Needed: $24,429
Mortgage Affordability

$0/yr

Needed to stay within recommended threshold

Median income:$0/yr
Can you afford it? Yes
Your income: $51,473Needed: $25,647

Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Metcalfe County, Kentucky?
Metcalfe County, Kentucky has a median monthly rent of $582/mo and a median home value of $110,200. The affordability rating is Affordable, with median gross rent equal to approximately 26.1% of renter household income.
What is the median rent in Metcalfe County?
The median gross rent in Metcalfe County is $582/mo. This is 27% below state average for Kentucky.
Is Metcalfe County affordable?
Metcalfe County is rated Affordable using the Census median gross-rent-as-a-percentage-of-income measure of 26.1%. Median gross rent is under 30% of renter household income.
How does Metcalfe County's rent compare to the state average?
Metcalfe County's median rent of $582/mo is 27% below state average of $793/mo for Kentucky.
What is the median home value in Metcalfe County?
The median home value in Metcalfe County, Kentucky is $110,200. This is 67% below the national median home value of $332,700.

Counties with Similar Housing Costs

Sponsored

Planning a Move?

Researching the cost of living in Metcalfe County, Kentucky? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.

Compare Moving Quotes
Sponsored

Compare Mortgage Rates in Metcalfe County

Whether you're buying in Metcalfe County, Kentucky, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.

See Today's Rates
Published by the CostByCounty Editorial Team. See our methodology and corrections policy.Data build reviewed 2026-07-09; first published 2026-03-10.

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.

CostByCounty participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you use our links, at no extra cost to you.