Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Kentucky a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Kentucky.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Bluegrass State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Kentucky, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 120 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Kentucky For 2024
Woodford County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Kentucky. And you should avoid Casey County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Kentucky. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Kentucky and the cheapest places to live in Kentucky.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Kentucky For 2024
1. Woodford County
Biggest Place: Versailles
Population: 26,886
Median Income: $78,295 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $301,775 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5% (2nd best)
More on Woodford County: Data
2. Oldham County
Biggest Place: La Grange
Population: 67,997
Median Income: $117,334 (best)
Median Home Price: $400,660 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9% (24th best)
More on Oldham County: Data
3. Boone County
Biggest Place: Florence
Population: 136,150
Median Income: $91,697 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $297,708 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8% (5th best)
More on Boone County: Data
4. Scott County
Biggest Place: Georgetown
Population: 57,286
Median Income: $80,782 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $288,813 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (20th best)
More on Scott County: Data
5. Campbell County
Biggest Place: Fort Thomas
Population: 93,122
Median Income: $71,979 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $240,236 (14th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8% (2best)
More on Campbell County: Data
6. Nelson County
Biggest Place: Bardstown
Population: 46,779
Median Income: $66,212 (17th best)
Median Home Price: $235,566 (15th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (7th best)
More on Nelson County: Data
7. Bullitt County
Biggest Place: Mount Washington
Population: 82,482
Median Income: $73,900 (8th best)
Median Home Price: $255,860 (10th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6% (40th best)
More on Bullitt County: Data
8. Kenton County
Biggest Place: Covington
Population: 169,066
Median Income: $76,016 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $249,312 (11th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.4% (32nd best)
More on Kenton County: Data
9. Meade County
Biggest Place: Fort Knox
Population: 29,964
Median Income: $68,518 (13th best)
Median Home Price: $244,664 (13th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (29th best)
More on Meade County: Data
10. Spencer County
Biggest Place: Elk Creek
Population: 19,549
Median Income: $101,118 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $332,221 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.2% (83rd best)
More on Spencer County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Kentucky county is the best?
To give you the best county in Kentucky, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Kentucky across each of the criteria from one to 120, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Kentucky.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Bluegrass State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best counties to live in Kentucky.
Read on to see why Woodford County is the best county, while Casey County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Kentucky.
Summary: The Best Counties In Kentucky To Call Home For 2024
Living in Kentucky can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Kentucky are Woodford County, Oldham County, Boone County, Scott County, Campbell County, Nelson County, Bullitt County, Kenton County, Meade County, and Spencer County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Kentucky according to the data:
- Casey County
- Bell County
- Harlan County
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
- Best Places To Retire In Kentucky
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Kentucky
- Best Places To Buy A House In Kentucky
- Best Counties To Live In Kentucky
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Kentucky
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woodford County | 26,886 | $78,295 | $301,775 |
| 2 | Oldham County | 67,997 | $117,334 | $400,660 |
| 3 | Boone County | 136,150 | $91,697 | $297,708 |
| 4 | Scott County | 57,286 | $80,782 | $288,813 |
| 5 | Campbell County | 93,122 | $71,979 | $240,236 |
| 6 | Nelson County | 46,779 | $66,212 | $235,566 |
| 7 | Bullitt County | 82,482 | $73,900 | $255,860 |
| 8 | Kenton County | 169,066 | $76,016 | $249,312 |
| 9 | Meade County | 29,964 | $68,518 | $244,664 |
| 10 | Spencer County | 19,549 | $101,118 | $332,221 |
| 11 | Anderson County | 23,839 | $69,885 | $216,855 |
| 12 | Shelby County | 48,105 | $81,012 | $282,884 |
| 13 | Grant County | 25,085 | $65,461 | $230,668 |
| 14 | Daviess County | 102,916 | $64,021 | $189,234 |
| 15 | Jessamine County | 53,381 | $69,905 | $277,905 |
| 16 | Jefferson County | 779,232 | $66,296 | $234,132 |
| 17 | Clark County | 36,897 | $61,878 | $225,851 |
| 18 | Fayette County | 321,276 | $66,087 | $289,226 |
| 19 | Marshall County | 31,706 | $64,597 | $156,347 |
| 20 | Taylor County | 26,056 | $63,211 | $176,826 |
| 21 | Harrison County | 18,803 | $58,840 | $175,705 |
| 22 | Mercer County | 22,662 | $60,728 | $197,903 |
| 23 | Mccracken County | 67,573 | $58,490 | $163,966 |
| 24 | Lyon County | 8,721 | $64,081 | $143,496 |
| 25 | Hardin County | 111,005 | $64,136 | $209,836 |
| 26 | Madison County | 92,955 | $59,797 | $245,717 |
| 27 | Franklin County | 51,475 | $62,929 | $209,173 |
| 28 | Hancock County | 9,058 | $68,102 | $168,003 |
| 29 | Henderson County | 44,770 | $56,912 | $177,431 |
| 30 | Mclean County | 9,173 | $64,020 | $119,987 |
| 31 | Larue County | 14,902 | $57,867 | $189,949 |
| 32 | Bourbon County | 20,228 | $54,580 | $218,587 |
| 33 | Washington County | 12,025 | $65,456 | $196,598 |
| 34 | Warren County | 135,307 | $63,074 | $269,019 |
| 35 | Hickman County | 4,491 | $68,589 | $123,288 |
| 36 | Simpson County | 19,574 | $55,907 | $230,240 |
| 37 | Trimble County | 8,510 | $66,492 | $199,507 |
| 38 | Ballard County | 7,742 | $57,111 | $112,550 |
| 39 | Boyle County | 30,613 | $56,568 | $209,024 |
| 40 | Bracken County | 8,420 | $59,911 | $161,218 |
| 41 | Union County | 13,495 | $58,260 | $124,271 |
| 42 | Henry County | 15,731 | $58,294 | $212,421 |
| 43 | Pendleton County | 14,638 | $58,723 | $191,754 |
| 44 | Garrard County | 17,175 | $58,263 | $215,711 |
| 45 | Gallatin County | 8,720 | $58,641 | $199,120 |
| 46 | Greenup County | 35,853 | $58,562 | $130,698 |
| 47 | Logan County | 27,498 | $58,869 | $186,541 |
| 48 | Graves County | 36,701 | $52,526 | $136,477 |
| 49 | Ohio County | 23,782 | $52,474 | $132,557 |
| 50 | Livingston County | 8,980 | $56,125 | $125,427 |
| 51 | Marion County | 19,627 | $49,627 | $186,479 |
| 52 | Owen County | 11,229 | $56,485 | $135,547 |
| 53 | Muhlenberg County | 30,735 | $50,935 | $118,022 |
| 54 | Rowan County | 24,551 | $50,038 | $151,945 |
| 55 | Hopkins County | 45,223 | $54,466 | $131,985 |
| 56 | Montgomery County | 28,188 | $53,436 | $192,180 |
| 57 | Laurel County | 62,442 | $53,693 | $165,950 |
| 58 | Mason County | 17,068 | $48,460 | $140,956 |
| 59 | Boyd County | 48,242 | $58,327 | $111,216 |
| 60 | Carlisle County | 4,782 | $53,065 | $116,623 |
| 61 | Allen County | 20,773 | $57,159 | $167,978 |
| 62 | Grayson County | 26,465 | $47,024 | $177,667 |
| 63 | Calloway County | 37,345 | $48,276 | $87,914 |
| 64 | Webster County | 12,951 | $55,451 | $108,361 |
| 65 | Caldwell County | 12,635 | $52,488 | $116,330 |
| 66 | Nicholas County | 7,613 | $57,539 | $136,269 |
| 67 | Bath County | 12,739 | $51,471 | $147,489 |
| 68 | Pulaski County | 65,145 | $48,768 | $161,182 |
| 69 | Lincoln County | 24,320 | $49,487 | $173,736 |
| 70 | Trigg County | 14,154 | $55,864 | $85,654 |
| 71 | Barren County | 44,511 | $48,141 | $180,209 |
| 72 | Robertson County | 2,207 | $53,798 | $143,127 |
| 73 | Todd County | 12,281 | $57,891 | $170,859 |
| 74 | Christian County | 72,766 | $48,920 | $179,164 |
| 75 | Crittenden County | 8,979 | $45,810 | $93,180 |
| 76 | Johnson County | 22,631 | $44,231 | $119,702 |
| 77 | Edmonson County | 12,179 | $53,029 | $156,797 |
| 78 | Adair County | 18,887 | $49,690 | $130,301 |
| 79 | Metcalfe County | 10,313 | $46,932 | $143,322 |
| 80 | Monroe County | 11,331 | $47,252 | $112,691 |
| 81 | Russell County | 18,021 | $48,220 | $131,920 |
| 82 | Hart County | 19,345 | $45,561 | $147,362 |
| 83 | Rockcastle County | 16,171 | $45,693 | $122,129 |
| 84 | Butler County | 12,365 | $47,589 | $168,021 |
| 85 | Morgan County | 13,840 | $46,018 | $101,417 |
| 86 | Clinton County | 9,295 | $41,180 | $138,622 |
| 87 | Carroll County | 10,842 | $50,625 | $167,142 |
| 88 | Powell County | 13,089 | $38,415 | $125,149 |
| 89 | Martin County | 11,298 | $45,265 | $96,320 |
| 90 | Breckinridge County | 20,528 | $51,756 | $138,907 |
| 91 | Menifee County | 6,174 | $43,797 | $103,865 |
| 92 | Perry County | 28,136 | $45,330 | $76,219 |
| 93 | Lawrence County | 16,228 | $42,488 | $144,890 |
| 94 | Wayne County | 19,666 | $41,583 | $144,073 |
| 95 | Jackson County | 13,002 | $38,516 | $106,218 |
| 96 | Fleming County | 15,111 | $46,885 | $158,020 |
| 97 | Whitley County | 36,648 | $44,332 | $115,970 |
| 98 | Cumberland County | 5,974 | $40,515 | $115,696 |
| 99 | Wolfe County | 6,573 | $28,666 | $156,888 |
| 100 | Green County | 11,198 | $38,595 | $141,502 |
