Best counties to live in Kentucky

Written by:
April 8, 2024
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Best counties to live in Kentucky

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Kentucky using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Fulton County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 6,480
- Median household income: $35,449
- Median home value: $75,000 (64% own)
- Median rent: $622 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Fulton County Elementary School (grade B), Fulton County High School (grade B minus), Fulton Independent School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Fulton (grade B), Hickman (grade B)

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#29. McLean County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 9,173
- Median household income: $64,020
- Median home value: $139,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $534 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Calhoun Elementary School (grade B+), Marie Gatton Phillips Elementary School (grade B), McLean County Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Sacramento (grade B minus), Calhoun (grade C+), Beech Grove (grade C+)

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#28. Laurel County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 62,442
- Median household income: $53,693
- Median home value: $141,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $772 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Sublimity Elementary School (grade A), Cold Hill Elementary School (grade A), Keavy Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: London Christian Academy (grade C+), Cornerstone Christian School (grade unavailable), Paces Creek Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: North Corbin (grade B), London (grade B minus), East Bernstadt (grade B minus)

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#27. Rowan County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 24,551
- Median household income: $50,038
- Median home value: $149,900 (61% own)
- Median rent: $759 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: McBrayer Elementary School (grade B), Rowan County Middle School (grade B minus), Tilden Hogge Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Lakeside Christian Academy (grade B), Rowan County Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morehead (grade B minus), Lakeview Heights (grade B minus)

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#26. Mason County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 17,068
- Median household income: $48,460
- Median home value: $156,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $697 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Mason County High School (grade B), Mason County Middle School (grade B), Mason County Intermediate School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Christian Fellowship School (grade A minus), St. Patrick School (grade B+)
- Top places: Maysville (grade B), Mays Lick (grade B minus), Dover (grade C+)

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#25. Lyon County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,380
- Population: 8,721
- Median household income: $64,081
- Median home value: $164,100 (82% own)
- Median rent: $689 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Lyon County Middle School (grade A minus), Lyon County Elementary School (grade B+), Lyon County High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Lyon County Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Eddyville (grade B minus), Kuttawa (grade B minus)

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#24. Marshall County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,292
- Population: 31,706
- Median household income: $64,597
- Median home value: $160,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $742 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Elementary School (grade B), Benton Elementary School (grade B), North Marshall Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Benton (grade B), Calvert City (grade C+), Hardin (grade C)

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#23. Logan County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,282
- Population: 27,498
- Median household income: $58,869
- Median home value: $134,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $683 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Olmstead Elementary School (grade B+), Lewisburg Elementary School (grade B+), Auburn Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Plainview Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Sands Springs School (grade unavailable), New Hope School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Russellville (grade B), Adairville (grade B+), Auburn (grade B)

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#22. Meade County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,137
- Population: 29,964
- Median household income: $68,518
- Median home value: $187,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $929 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: David T. Wilson Elementary School (grade A minus), Flaherty Elementary School (grade B+), Brandenburg Primary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Muldraugh (grade B minus), Doe Valley (grade B+), Brandenburg (grade B)

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#21. Graves County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,135
- Population: 36,701
- Median household income: $52,526
- Median home value: $134,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $662 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Fancy Farm Elementary School (grade A), Graves County Central Elementary School (grade A minus), Farmington Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northside Baptist Christian School (grade B), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mayfield (grade B), Symsonia (grade B+), Wingo (grade B minus)

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#20. Henderson County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,119
- Population: 44,770
- Median household income: $56,912
- Median home value: $156,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $775 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Cairo Elementary School (grade A minus), Henderson County South Middle School (grade A minus), Spottsville Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Holy Name Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Henderson (grade B), Robards (grade B), Corydon (grade B minus)

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#19. Taylor County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,085
- Population: 26,056
- Median household income: $63,211
- Median home value: $156,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $708 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Campbellsville High School (grade B+), Taylor County Elementary School (grade B minus), Taylor County High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Christian School (grade unavailable), Campbellsville Christian Church Center for Education (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Campbellsville (grade B)

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#18. Pulaski County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 1,008
- Population: 65,145
- Median household income: $48,768
- Median home value: $140,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $810 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Oak Hill Elementary School (grade A), Science Hill Elementary School (grade A), Shopville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Somerset Christian School (grade B+), Jordan Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Saline Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Burnside (grade B), Somerset (grade B minus), Ferguson (grade B)

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#17. Daviess County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 739
- Population: 102,916
- Median household income: $64,021
- Median home value: $171,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $890 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Newton Parrish Elementary School (grade A minus), Highland Elementary School (grade A minus), Daviess County Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Owensboro Catholic High School (grade B+), Trinity High School (grade B), St. Mary of the Woods School (grade A)
- Top places: Owensboro (grade B), Masonville (grade B), Whitesville (grade B)

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#16. Scott County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 557
- Population: 57,286
- Median household income: $80,782
- Median home value: $240,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,098 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Scott County Middle School (grade B+), Western Elementary School (grade B+), Royal Spring Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Providence Christian Academy (grade unavailable), St. John School (grade unavailable), Childcare Network Georgetown (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Georgetown (grade B+), Stamping Ground (grade B), Sadieville (grade B)

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#15. Calloway County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 533
- Population: 37,345
- Median household income: $48,276
- Median home value: $169,100 (64% own)
- Median rent: $770 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Murray Middle School (grade A), Murray Elementary School (grade A), Murray High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Eastwood Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Harmony Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Murray (grade B+), Hazel (grade B minus), Dexter (grade C+)

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#14. Jessamine County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 510
- Population: 53,381
- Median household income: $69,905
- Median home value: $226,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $972 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Wilmore Elementary School (grade A minus), West Jessamine High School (grade A minus), West Jessamine Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Tabernacle Christian Academy (grade B minus), Christian Light Academy (grade unavailable), Creative Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Wilmore (grade A), Nicholasville (grade B), High Bridge (grade unavailable)

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#13. Hardin County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 480
- Population: 111,005
- Median household income: $64,136
- Median home value: $186,500 (62% own)
- Median rent: $909 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Elizabethtown High School (grade A minus), Lincoln Trail Elementary School (grade A minus), Howevalley Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: North Hardin Christian School (grade B minus), St. James Catholic School (grade unavailable), Academy of Learning - Elizabethtown (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Elizabethtown (grade B+), Vine Grove (grade B+), Radcliff (grade B)

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#12. Shelby County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 434
- Population: 48,105
- Median household income: $81,012
- Median home value: $247,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $939 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Simpsonville Elementary School (grade B+), Heritage Elementary School (grade B+), Martha Layne Collins High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade B), Corpus Christi Classical Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Shelbyville (grade B+), Simpsonville (grade A minus)

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#11. Franklin County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 379
- Population: 51,475
- Median household income: $62,929
- Median home value: $184,000 (63% own)
- Median rent: $902 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Frankfort High School (grade A minus), Collins Lane Elementary School (grade B+), Second Street School (grade B)
- Top private schools: The Frankfort Christian Academy (grade B+), Capital Day School (grade A+), Good Shepherd Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Frankfort (grade B+)

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#10. Madison County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 377
- Population: 92,955
- Median household income: $59,797
- Median home value: $200,600 (61% own)
- Median rent: $826 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: B. Michael Caudill Middle School (grade A minus), White Hall Elementary School (grade A minus), Farristown Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mark Catholic School (grade unavailable), The Growing Place (grade unavailable), Burrier Child Development Center - Eastern Kentucky University (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Berea (grade A minus), Richmond (grade B+)

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#9. Jefferson County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 361
- Population: 779,232
- Median household income: $66,296
- Median home value: $222,200 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,045 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), Anchorage Independent Public School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
- Top places: Anchorage (grade A+), Beechwood Village (grade A+), Deer Park (grade A+)

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#8. Warren County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 299
- Population: 135,307
- Median household income: $63,074
- Median home value: $227,300 (57% own)
- Median rent: $942 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Potter Gray Elementary School (grade A), W.R. McNeill Elementary School (grade A), Bowling Green High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Legacy Christian Academy (grade B), St. Joseph Interparochial School (grade A+), Foundation Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Plano (grade A minus), Bowling Green (grade B+), Woodburn (grade B+)

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#7. Boyle County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 234
- Population: 30,613
- Median household income: $56,568
- Median home value: $179,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $762 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Boyle County Middle School (grade A), Woodlawn Elementary School (grade A), Perryville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Danville Christian Academy (grade B+), Danville Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Danville (grade A minus), Junction City (grade B), Perryville (grade A)

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#6. Kenton County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 204
- Population: 169,066
- Median household income: $76,016
- Median home value: $207,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $961 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Beechwood Elementary School (grade A), Beechwood High School (grade A), White's Tower Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Covington Latin School (grade A), Villa Madonna Academy (grade A), Notre Dame Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Park Hills (grade A+), Villa Hills (grade A+), Crestview Hills (grade A+)

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#5. McCracken County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 193
- Population: 67,573
- Median household income: $58,490
- Median home value: $172,300 (67% own)
- Median rent: $849 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Concord Elementary School (grade A), Heath Middle School (grade A), Lone Oak Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Mary School System (grade A minus), Community Christian Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Massac (grade A), Hendron (grade A minus), Paducah (grade A minus)

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#4. Woodford County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 170
- Population: 26,886
- Median household income: $78,295
- Median home value: $259,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $936 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Woodford County Middle School (grade A), Huntertown Elementary School (grade A minus), Northside Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Leo School (grade unavailable), Woodford Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Versailles (grade B+), Midway (grade A)

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#3. Campbell County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 164
- Population: 93,122
- Median household income: $71,979
- Median home value: $214,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $979 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Woodfill Elementary School (grade A), Moyer Elementary School (grade A), Johnson Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Bishop Brossart High School (grade B+), Newport Central Catholic High School (grade B+), St. Mary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Fort Thomas (grade A+), Wilder (grade A+), Bellevue (grade A)

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#2. Boone County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 133
- Population: 136,150
- Median household income: $91,697
- Median home value: $237,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,177 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Erpenbeck Elementary School (grade A), Larry A. Ryle High School (grade A), Gray Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Henry District High School (grade B+), Heritage Academy (grade B), Immaculate Heart of Mary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Union (grade A), Francisville (grade A), Burlington (grade A)

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Stephen Bailey // Shutterstock

#1. Oldham County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 82
- Population: 67,997
- Median household income: $117,334
- Median home value: $357,500 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,113 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: North Oldham Middle School (grade A), Kenwood Station Elementary School (grade A), East Oldham Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+), St. Aloysius School (grade unavailable), Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Goshen (grade A), Pewee Valley (grade A), Crestwood (grade A)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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