An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Kentucky using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
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1 / 21- Overall Rank: 956
- Population: 2,419
- Median household income: $202,917
- Median home value: $749,000 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,802 (7% 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+)
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2 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,302
- Population: 1,302
- Median household income: $114,375
- Median home value: $324,600 (85% own)
- Median rent: $996 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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3 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,588
- Population: 3,212
- Median household income: $107,857
- Median home value: $250,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,307 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Beechwood Elementary School (grade A), Beechwood High School (grade A), Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), Covington Latin School (grade A), Saint Ursula Academy (grade A)
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4 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,653
- Population: 8,447
- Median household income: $117,308
- Median home value: $278,000 (90% own)
- Median rent: $1,147 (10% rent)
- Top public schools: Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus), Ft. Wright Elementary School (grade A minus), R.C. Hinsdale Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), Covington Latin School (grade A), Saint Ursula Academy (grade A)
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5 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,884
- Population: 8,667
- Median household income: $74,830
- Median home value: $342,900 (55% own)
- Median rent: $924 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Beechwood Elementary School (grade A), Beechwood High School (grade A), Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Seven Hills School (grade A+), The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), Covington Latin School (grade A)
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6 / 21- Overall Rank: 578
- Population: 17,310
- Median household income: $95,391
- Median home value: $273,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,025 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Woodfill Elementary School (grade A), Moyer Elementary School (grade A), Johnson Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Seven Hills School (grade A+), The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), St. Xavier High School (grade A+)
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7 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,240
- Population: 1,037
- Median household income: $94,926
- Median home value: $268,700 (90% own)
- Median rent: $2,148 (10% rent)
- Top public schools: North Oldham Middle School (grade A), North Oldham High School (grade A), Harmony Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+), Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+)
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8 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,317
- Population: 2,891
- Median household income: $178,250
- Median home value: $638,800 (98% own)
- Median rent: No data available (2% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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9 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,912
- Population: 2,830
- Median household income: $104,523
- Median home value: $234,900 (82% own)
- Median rent: $984 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Beechwood Elementary School (grade A), Beechwood High School (grade A), Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), Covington Latin School (grade A), Saint Ursula Academy (grade A)
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10 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,483
- Population: 1,106
- Median household income: $121,429
- Median home value: $469,200 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,335 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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11 / 21- Overall Rank: 624
- Population: 3,159
- Median household income: $89,167
- Median home value: $252,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $884 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus), Ft. Wright Elementary School (grade A minus), Turkey Foot Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Seven Hills School (grade A+), The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), St. Xavier High School (grade A+)
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12 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,165
- Population: 4,624
- Median household income: $173,528
- Median home value: $470,400 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,147 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), North Oldham Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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13 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,994
- Population: 7,369
- Median household income: $131,047
- Median home value: $340,900 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,705 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Erpenbeck Elementary School (grade A), Larry A. Ryle High School (grade A), Gray Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Covington Latin School (grade A), Villa Madonna Academy (grade A), Notre Dame Academy (grade A minus)
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14 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,568
- Population: 7,331
- Median household income: $109,196
- Median home value: $296,300 (94% own)
- Median rent: $1,122 (6% rent)
- Top public schools: Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus), River Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Turkey Foot Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Seven Hills School (grade A+), The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), Covington Latin School (grade A)
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15 / 21- Overall Rank: 928
- Population: 3,152
- Median household income: $66,250
- Median home value: $135,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,202 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Donald E. Cline Elementary School (grade A), Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students (grade A minus), Campbell County Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Seven Hills School (grade A+), The Summit Country Day School (grade A+), Covington Latin School (grade A)
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16 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,094
- Population: 6,017
- Median household income: $59,848
- Median home value: $200,500 (50% own)
- Median rent: $857 (50% 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: Lexington Catholic High School (grade A), Lexington Christian Academy (grade A), Clays Mill Road Christian Academy (grade B)
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17 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,253
- Population: 2,193
- Median household income: $106,875
- Median home value: $355,100 (88% own)
- Median rent: $2,362 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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18 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,144
- Population: 4,255
- Median household income: $120,494
- Median home value: $417,161 (68% own)
- Median rent: $978 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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19 / 21- Overall Rank: 2,106
- Population: 4,032
- Median household income: $122,275
- Median home value: $409,407 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,058 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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20 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,985
- Population: 5,218
- Median household income: $104,514
- Median home value: $361,331 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,185 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
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21 / 21- Overall Rank: 1,391
- Population: 4,242
- Median household income: $99,140
- Median home value: $321,448 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,110 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
