Kentuckians love to sing ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ because it’s such a great state. But Kentucky isn’t just for some. It’s for everyone: especially families. And HomeSnacks is here to tell you where the best places for families are located in the Bluegrass State for 2026.
How did we determine Kentucky’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in bluegrass country with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 40 family friendly Kentucky places that any family would be lucky to call home. We discovered that there are places in Kentucky for every type of family. There are hip mommy and daddy towns like Danville, cool mountain towns like Morehead, and cowboy/cowgirl towns like Bowling Green for families that want to raise horse too.
Speaking of family entertainment, when Kentucky families are ready for some fun in the Midwest sun, there is plenty of family friendly fun to be had. We think the best family day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky would go something like this: first, a trip to Harland Sanders Cafe in North Corbin for a bucket of that famous Kentucky Fried Chicken; then, a quick stroll through campus at the University of Kentucky in Lexington (it’s never too early to start planning for your kid’s future); followed by a couple of spins on the ferris wheel at Louisville’s Kentucky Kingdom.
So, if you’re looking for safe, family friendly cities and neighborhoods, amazing schools, large green spaces, and just overall good family friendly fun, keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Kentucky For 2026
What do 1.7 millions families in Kentucky know that we don’t? They know that Kentucky has great schools, great universities, and a lot of opportunity if your family is up for the challenge. And this is especially evident in Kentucky’s number one best place to raise a family, Versailles.
If you want to see how Kentucky’s other amazing best places to raise a family faired, take a look at the list below. And if you don’t see your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Kentucky and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Kentucky
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kentucky
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Kentucky For 2026
/10
Population: 10,492
Median Income: $62,368
Average Home Price: $348,651
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 67
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 34.1%
More on Versailles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 29,392
Median Income: $102,361
Average Home Price: $323,030
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 42.8%
More on Independence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,169
Median Income: $104,350
Average Home Price: $368,292
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 34.1%
More on Fort Thomas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 39,117
Median Income: $80,088
Average Home Price: $336,540
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 37.3%
More on Georgetown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,668
Median Income: $75,610
Average Home Price: $305,922
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 36.8%
More on Shelbyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,562
Median Income: $102,239
Average Home Price: $338,680
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 36.8%
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 32,576
Median Income: $60,760
Average Home Price: $268,312
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 52
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 33.2%
More on Elizabethtown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,311
Median Income: $88,464
Average Home Price: $392,371
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 40.3%
More on La Grange: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,943
Median Income: $66,486
Average Home Price: $261,325
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 35.4%
More on Lawrenceburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,875
Median Income: $75,840
Average Home Price: $245,646
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 30.3%
More on Erlanger: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Kentucky anyways?
To give you the places in Kentucky that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Kentucky, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Kentucky, that meant a total of 40 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Kentucky.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Kentucky
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Kentucky ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Kentucky are Versailles, Independence, Fort Thomas, Georgetown, Shelbyville, Alexandria, Elizabethtown, La Grange, Lawrenceburg, and Erlanger.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Kentucky according to the data:
- Shively
- Radcliff
- Henderson
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Kentucky
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Versailles, KY | 10,492 | $62,368 | $348,651 | 42 |
| 2 | Independence, KY | 29,392 | $102,361 | $323,030 | 54 |
| 3 | Fort Thomas, KY | 17,169 | $104,350 | $368,292 | 51 |
| 4 | Georgetown, KY | 39,117 | $80,088 | $336,540 | 66 |
| 5 | Shelbyville, KY | 17,668 | $75,610 | $305,922 | 52 |
| 6 | Alexandria, KY | 10,562 | $102,239 | $338,680 | 40 |
| 7 | Elizabethtown, KY | 32,576 | $60,760 | $268,312 | 40 |
| 8 | La Grange, KY | 10,311 | $88,464 | $392,371 | 36 |
| 9 | Lawrenceburg, KY | 11,943 | $66,486 | $261,325 | 35 |
| 10 | Erlanger, KY | 19,875 | $75,840 | $245,646 | 59 |