Rent, home prices, and cost of living in Kentucky
Across the 85 Kentucky cities with committed home, rent, and income data, the population-weighted cost index is 91, 9% below the U.S. baseline of 100. In that sample, the median city home value is $248,924, the median city monthly rent is $1,276, and the median city household income is $60,503.
Cross-city statistics over the 85 Kentucky cities with committed home, rent, and income data; not a statewide household median. Home value and rent: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI Aug 2026 where matched, HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR where no ZORI match, otherwise Census ACS 2024 place estimates. Household income: Census ACS 2024 place estimates. Cost index: population-weighted across the sample from those housing inputs plus BEA 2024 regional price parities.
Major cities in Kentucky
Tax context: top income-tax rate 3.5%, estimated combined sales tax 6%, property-tax proxy 0.74%. Use the dedicated tax tool for an income scenario.
All 87 Kentucky cities
Every committed place in Kentucky, grouped by population. Each entry links straight to its cost-of-living page, and the list is rendered on the server so it is visible without JavaScript.
Cities of 100,000 or more 2 cities
Cities of 25,000 to 99,999 14 cities
Cities of 10,000 to 24,999 30 cities
- Radcliff, KY
- Ashland, KY
- Erlanger, KY
- Madisonville, KY
- Winchester, KY
- Mount Washington, KY
- Murray, KY
- Burlington, KY
- Shelbyville, KY
- St. Matthews, KY
- Danville, KY
- Fort Thomas, KY
- Berea, KY
- Shively, KY
- Glasgow, KY
- Shepherdsville, KY
- Newport, KY
- Bardstown, KY
- Somerset, KY
- Lawrenceburg, KY
- Campbellsville, KY
- Fort Campbell North, KY
- Lyndon, KY
- Francisville, KY
- Alexandria, KY
- Versailles, KY
- Franklin, KY
- La Grange, KY
- Oakbrook, KY
- Paris, KY
Places under 10,000 41 cities
- Mayfield, KY
- Middletown, KY
- Harrodsburg, KY
- Elsmere, KY
- Middlesborough, KY
- Fort Knox, KY
- Hillview, KY
- Maysville, KY
- Fort Mitchell, KY
- Edgewood, KY
- Corbin, KY
- Oak Grove, KY
- Union, KY
- London, KY
- Mount Sterling, KY
- Pikeville, KY
- Villa Hills, KY
- Russellville, KY
- Flatwoods, KY
- Taylor Mill, KY
- Morehead, KY
- Vine Grove, KY
- Leitchfield, KY
- Cynthiana, KY
- Highland Heights, KY
- Lebanon, KY
- Hebron, KY
- Crestwood, KY
- Cold Spring, KY
- Princeton, KY
- Wilmore, KY
- Fort Wright, KY
- Monticello, KY
- Dayton, KY
- Walton, KY
- Central City, KY
- Bellevue, KY
- Douglass Hills, KY
- Reidland, KY
- Williamsburg, KY
- Hazard, KY
Data boundary: city housing and income use committed Zillow, HUD FMR, and Census inputs; non-housing costs use BEA regional proxies; mortgage estimates use the committed FRED benchmark. HUD FMRs are 2-bedroom 40th-percentile gross-rent program benchmarks, not market medians. Tax values are state context, not an individual filing or parcel bill. The state-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy is from the Tax Foundation 2026 edition, based on 2024 ACS.
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky
Kentucky housing questions
What is the most affordable city to live in Kentucky?+
Among the cities we track, Middlesborough stands out as the most affordable option in Kentucky. The median home value there is $99,900, and monthly rent typically runs around $909. The local median household income is $31,106, which tends to go further here than in much of the state.
What is the most expensive city in Kentucky?+
Crestwood is currently the priciest market in KY. Homes there are valued at a median of $489,356, and renters can expect to pay around $1,796/month. Incomes are higher too — the median household earns $108,046 — but whether that fully offsets the cost premium depends on your lifestyle.
How are taxes in Kentucky?+
Kentucky uses an approximate state-income-tax planning model; 3.5% is top marginal-rate context. The state-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy is 0.74% and is not an individual bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is 6%.
How much does housing vary across Kentucky?+
There's a huge range. In Middlesborough, the median home costs around $99,900. In Crestwood, that number jumps to $489,356 — roughly 4x more. Rents follow a similar pattern: approximately $909/month vs. $1,796/month. Where you choose to settle within KY can make a dramatic difference in your monthly budget.
Is Kentucky a good state to move to?+
It depends on your priorities and budget. Kentucky has a wide range of living costs depending on the city. Typical home values range from around $99,900 in lower-cost tracked places to $489,356 in higher-cost tracked places. Use the city comparison tool to compare housing, rent, state-level tax proxies, and everyday cost pressure across locations in KY.