Best counties to raise a family in Kentucky
Best counties to raise a family in Kentucky
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Kentucky using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Larue County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (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-)
#24. Logan County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (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)
#23. Ballard County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,678
- Median household income: $64,740
- Median home value: $132,900
- Top places to live: La Center (B+), Wickliffe (B), Kevil (B-)
#22. Meade County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 30,032
- Median household income: $70,163
- Median home value: $195,000
- Top places to live: Muldraugh (B-), Brandenburg (B), Doe Valley (B-)
#21. Taylor County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 26,205
- Median household income: $61,871
- Median home value: $163,700
- Top places to live: Campbellsville (B)
#20. Christian County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 72,599
- Median household income: $54,190
- Median home value: $149,200
- Top places to live: Hopkinsville (B-), Oak Grove (B-), Pembroke (B)
#19. Calloway County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 37,882
- Median household income: $51,854
- Median home value: $181,200
- Top places to live: Murray (A-), Hazel (B), Dexter (C+)
#18. Daviess County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 103,195
- Median household income: $65,323
- Median home value: $185,800
- Top places to live: Owensboro (B+), Whitesville (B+), Masonville (B-)
#17. Pulaski County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 65,503
- Median household income: $50,943
- Median home value: $156,300
- Top places to live: Somerset (B-), Science Hill (B), Ferguson (B)
#16. Franklin County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (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+)
#15. Shelby County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (C+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 48,599
- Median household income: $82,671
- Median home value: $277,500
- Top places to live: Shelbyville (B+), Simpsonville (A-)
#14. Henderson County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 44,493
- Median household income: $58,239
- Median home value: $165,700
- Top places to live: Henderson (B), Robards (B), Corydon (B)
#13. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (C), 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+)
#12. Jessamine County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 53,792
- Median household income: $74,886
- Median home value: $245,100
- Top places to live: Wilmore (A), Nicholasville (B+), High Bridge (unavailable)
#11. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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+)
#10. Scott County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 58,269
- Median household income: $83,660
- Median home value: $264,200
- Top places to live: Georgetown (B+), Sadieville (B+), Stamping Ground (B)
#9. Hardin County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 111,452
- Median household income: $67,608
- Median home value: $205,900
- Top places to live: Elizabethtown (B+), Vine Grove (B+), Radcliff (B)
#8. Warren County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 137,549
- Median household income: $64,801
- Median home value: $242,600
- Top places to live: Plano (B+), Bowling Green (B+), Woodburn (A-)
#7. Woodford County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (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-)
#6. Kenton County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 169,817
- Median household income: $79,421
- Median home value: $227,500
- Top places to live: Park Hills (A+), Edgewood (A+), Villa Hills (A+)
#5. McCracken County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (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-)
#4. Campbell County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 93,193
- Median household income: $77,271
- Median home value: $234,500
- Top places to live: Fort Thomas (A+), Wilder (A+), Bellevue (A)
#3. Boyle County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (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+)
#2. Boone County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 137,676
- Median household income: $94,752
- Median home value: $253,200
- Top places to live: Union (A+), Francisville (A), Verona (A)
#1. Oldham County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), 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)
