Counties with the lowest cost of living in Kentucky

Written by:
April 12, 2024
Appz Dreamer // Shutterstock

Counties with the lowest cost of living in Kentucky

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Kentucky using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Perry County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 204
- Population: 28,136
- Median household income: $45,330
- Median home value: $92,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $735 (24% rent)

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#29. McCreary County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 203
- Population: 16,892
- Median household income: $35,000
- Median home value: $85,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $580 (30% rent)

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#28. Ballard County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 195
- Population: 7,742
- Median household income: $57,111
- Median home value: $102,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $758 (20% rent)

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#27. Union County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 194
- Population: 13,495
- Median household income: $58,260
- Median home value: $109,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $735 (27% rent)

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#26. Russell County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 191
- Population: 18,021
- Median household income: $48,220
- Median home value: $121,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $611 (26% rent)

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#25. Fulton County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 175
- Population: 6,480
- Median household income: $35,449
- Median home value: $75,000 (64% own)
- Median rent: $622 (36% rent)

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#24. Caldwell County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 173
- Population: 12,635
- Median household income: $52,488
- Median home value: $103,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $706 (27% rent)

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Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#23. Edmonson County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 162
- Population: 12,179
- Median household income: $53,029
- Median home value: $116,000 (83% own)
- Median rent: $672 (17% rent)

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#22. Hancock County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 159
- Population: 9,058
- Median household income: $68,102
- Median home value: $116,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $785 (21% rent)

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#21. Elliott County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 153
- Population: 7,378
- Median household income: $39,469
- Median home value: $90,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $625 (23% rent)

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#20. Crittenden County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 152
- Population: 8,979
- Median household income: $45,810
- Median home value: $105,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $670 (20% rent)

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#19. Harlan County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 146
- Population: 26,589
- Median household income: $35,128
- Median home value: $71,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $625 (31% rent)

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#18. Morgan County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 144
- Population: 13,840
- Median household income: $46,018
- Median home value: $90,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $681 (21% rent)

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#17. Bell County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 121
- Population: 24,248
- Median household income: $33,658
- Median home value: $76,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $608 (37% rent)

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#16. Butler County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 117
- Population: 12,365
- Median household income: $47,589
- Median home value: $102,200 (72% own)
- Median rent: $650 (28% rent)

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#15. Menifee County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 106
- Population: 6,174
- Median household income: $43,797
- Median home value: $104,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $646 (26% rent)

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#14. Rockcastle County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 98
- Population: 16,171
- Median household income: $45,693
- Median home value: $100,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $685 (24% rent)

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#13. Bath County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 91
- Population: 12,739
- Median household income: $51,471
- Median home value: $101,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $566 (28% rent)

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#12. Nicholas County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 85
- Population: 7,613
- Median household income: $57,539
- Median home value: $111,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $661 (29% rent)

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#11. Clinton County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 77
- Population: 9,295
- Median household income: $41,180
- Median home value: $90,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $605 (27% rent)

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#10. Webster County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 75
- Population: 12,951
- Median household income: $55,451
- Median home value: $86,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $710 (28% rent)

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#9. McLean County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 67
- Population: 9,173
- Median household income: $64,020
- Median home value: $139,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $534 (20% rent)

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#8. Clay County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 59
- Population: 20,322
- Median household income: $37,888
- Median home value: $73,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $642 (25% rent)

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#7. Metcalfe County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 57
- Population: 10,313
- Median household income: $46,932
- Median home value: $95,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $585 (22% rent)

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#6. Martin County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 54
- Population: 11,298
- Median household income: $45,265
- Median home value: $91,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $695 (21% rent)

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#5. Leslie County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 41
- Population: 10,468
- Median household income: $37,019
- Median home value: $77,900 (87% own)
- Median rent: $550 (13% rent)

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#4. Letcher County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 38
- Population: 21,490
- Median household income: $38,466
- Median home value: $66,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $625 (26% rent)

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#3. Knott County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 16
- Population: 14,282
- Median household income: $38,336
- Median home value: $66,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $635 (27% rent)

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#2. Wolfe County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 11
- Population: 6,573
- Median household income: $28,666
- Median home value: $62,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $440 (32% rent)

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#1. Breathitt County, Kentucky

- Overall Rank: 3
- Population: 13,580
- Median household income: $38,209
- Median home value: $58,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $501 (27% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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