Best counties to live in 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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.