Cost of Living in Nelson County, Kentucky
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
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 Nelson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Nelson County ranks #2,118 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 33%)
Sourced county brief
Nelson County Official GRAPI Reaches 30.6 Percent
The official GRAPI in Nelson County is 30.6%, which is 3.4 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.2%. Median gross rent was estimated at $1,008 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $793. The median home value in the county was $238,000, which is $77,165 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $160,835. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $954, while the median renter-household income was recorded at $38,732. The canonical rentToIncomePct for the county is based on the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Nelson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.6% of renter household income in Nelson County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,008 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $954. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $40,320 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. Nelson County's $1,008 median is 27.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Nelson County
Rent Burden
17.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,623
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.5%
of gross income
The median home in Nelson County may be a stretch
Median home value is $238,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,900 vs. your max of $1,623.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
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 Nelson County, Kentucky?
What is the median rent in Nelson County?
Is Nelson County affordable?
How does Nelson County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Nelson County?
Counties with Similar Housing Costs
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in Nelson County, Kentucky? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesCompare Mortgage Rates in Nelson County
Whether you're buying in Nelson County, Kentucky, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.
See Today's RatesData: 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.