Best counties to retire to in Kentucky

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

To find the best counties to retire to in Kentucky based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Kentucky.

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#25. Franklin County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 51,563
- Median household income: $66,470
- Median home value: $198,700
- Top places to live: Frankfort (B+)

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#24. Larue County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 15,028
- Median household income: $67,770
- Median home value: $177,500
- Top places to live: Hodgenville (B+), Magnolia (C+), Buffalo (C-)

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#23. McLean County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,127
- Median household income: $70,549
- Median home value: $145,600
- Top places to live: Beech Grove (B), Calhoun (B-), Island (C+)

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#22. Logan County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 27,731
- Median household income: $61,535
- Median home value: $151,500
- Top places to live: Russellville (B), Adairville (B), Auburn (B)

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#21. Carter County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 26,515
- Median household income: $50,389
- Median home value: $126,100
- Top places to live: Grayson (C+), Olive Hill (B)

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#20. Mercer County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 22,824
- Median household income: $63,115
- Median home value: $189,700
- Top places to live: Harrodsburg (B-), Burgin (B+), Salvisa (B)

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#19. Union County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,379
- Median household income: $60,989
- Median home value: $109,000
- Top places to live: Morganfield (B-), Breckinridge Center (C+), Sturgis (B-)

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#18. Trigg County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 14,211
- Median household income: $54,630
- Median home value: $192,000
- Top places to live: Cadiz (B), Cerulean (B-)

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#17. Metcalfe County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 10,372
- Median household income: $48,572
- Median home value: $103,100
- Top places to live: Edmonton (C+), Summer Shade (D+)

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#16. Madison County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 94,064
- Median household income: $62,407
- Median home value: $220,700
- Top places to live: Berea (A-), Richmond (B+)

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#15. Livingston County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,941
- Median household income: $59,713
- Median home value: $116,300
- Top places to live: Ledbetter (C+), Grand Rivers (B-), Salem (B-)

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#14. Graves County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 36,612
- Median household income: $50,576
- Median home value: $139,000
- Top places to live: Mayfield (B), Symsonia (B+), Sedalia (B)

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#13. Oldham County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 68,600
- Median household income: $121,491
- Median home value: $375,000
- Top places to live: Buckner (A), Pewee Valley (A), Orchard Grass Hills (A)

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#12. Clinton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,240
- Median household income: $42,168
- Median home value: $114,000
- Top places to live: Albany (B-)

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#11. Jefferson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 777,392
- Median household income: $67,849
- Median home value: $237,200
- Top places to live: Windy Hills (A+), Brownsboro Zorn (A+), Deer Park (A+)

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#10. Crittenden County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 8,972
- Median household income: $47,003
- Median home value: $115,700
- Top places to live: Marion (B), Crayne (B-)

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#9. Caldwell County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 12,631
- Median household income: $57,618
- Median home value: $113,500
- Top places to live: Princeton (B), Fredonia (B+)

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#8. Woodford County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 27,017
- Median household income: $80,006
- Median home value: $270,400
- Top places to live: Versailles (B+), Midway (A-)

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#7. Fulton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 6,440
- Median household income: $36,834
- Median home value: $78,100
- Top places to live: Fulton (B+), Hickman (B)

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#6. Boyle County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 30,708
- Median household income: $61,635
- Median home value: $200,700
- Top places to live: Danville (A-), Junction City (B), Perryville (A+)

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#5. Greenup County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 35,639
- Median household income: $59,613
- Median home value: $135,300
- Top places to live: Bellefonte (A), Russell (A), Flatwoods (B+)

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#4. Lyon County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,831
- Median household income: $64,464
- Median home value: $183,600
- Top places to live: Eddyville (B), Kuttawa (B-)

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#3. Boyd County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 48,043
- Median household income: $60,659
- Median home value: $126,300
- Top places to live: Ashland (B), Catlettsburg (B-), Cannonsburg (C+)

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#2. McCracken County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 67,584
- Median household income: $62,385
- Median home value: $182,900
- Top places to live: Massac (A), Paducah (A-), Reidland (A-)

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#1. Marshall County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 31,728
- Median household income: $63,611
- Median home value: $173,700
- Top places to live: Benton (B), Calvert City (C+), Hardin (C)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.