You’ve deposited your last paycheck, and you’re looking for a place to retire in the Bluegrass State. We’re here to help you find the best places in Kentucky for retirement.
Why would anyone want to retire in Kentucky? Rent in Kentucky is 30% less than the national average, and it’s among the safest states in America.
Now that every day is the weekend, you’ll be able to sample all of Kentucky’s world-famous bourbon distilleries any day of the week. If you like bluegrass music, then Kentucky’s going to be heaven for you.
To find the best places to retire in Kentucky, we looked at the 41 cities in Kentucky with populations of at least 10,000 people. Then we pulled data from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights. We found the places with higher median age, good weather, low crime, low cost of living, and easy access to things that’ll keep you entertained in your retirement.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Kentucky For 2024
Where is the best place to retire in Kentucky? According to the data, Paris is the best place to retire in Kentucky.
There are options in every corner of the state, from the Cincinnati suburb of Fort Thomas in the north to Mayfield in the far southwest. There aren’t too many cities on this list that are super close to Louisville, the state’s biggest city.
Get ready to wash back your Kentucky fried chicken with some moonshine, without having to worry about work in the morning, because we’re heading to the best places in Kentucky to retire.
Why did Paris take the top spot? And where are Bowling Green and Owensboro?
For more Kentucky state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Kentucky
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kentucky
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Kentucky
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Kentucky For 2024
/10
Population: 10,143
Median Income: $46,752
Median Home Price: $217,396
Median Rent: $739
Distance to Closest Airport: 62 miles
More on Paris: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,043
Median Income: $44,125
Median Home Price: $183,709
Median Rent: $797
Distance to Closest Airport: 73 miles
More on Glasgow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,577
Median Income: $74,147
Median Home Price: $217,776
Median Rent: $959
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Erlanger: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,297
Median Income: $55,606
Median Home Price: $307,956
Median Rent: $935
Distance to Closest Airport: 69 miles
More on Versailles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,191
Median Income: $48,038
Median Home Price: $219,456
Median Rent: $765
Distance to Closest Airport: 97 miles
More on Danville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 21,542
Median Income: $51,250
Median Home Price: $104,334
Median Rent: $793
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Ashland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,564
Median Income: $47,654
Median Home Price: $232,877
Median Rent: $850
Distance to Closest Airport: 95 miles
More on Bardstown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 26,869
Median Income: $46,984
Median Home Price: $163,883
Median Rent: $815
Distance to Closest Airport: 105 miles
More on Paducah: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,998
Median Income: $33,245
Median Home Price: $181,592
Median Rent: $812
Distance to Closest Airport: 132 miles
More on Somerset: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,239
Median Income: $74,433
Median Home Price: $271,621
Median Rent: $947
Distance to Closest Airport: 65 miles
More on Shelbyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Bluegrass State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Kentucky to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Bluegrass State — 520 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 41 places from across the state.
For these 41, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 41, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Paris, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Kentucky.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Kentucky Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Kentucky goes to Paris.
The best places to retire in Kentucky are Paris, Glasgow, Erlanger, Versailles, Danville, Ashland, Bardstown, Paducah, Somerset, and Shelbyville.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- St. Matthews
- Radcliff
- Lyndon
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Kentucky
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris | 10,143 | $46,752 | $217,396 | $739 |
| 2 | Glasgow | 15,043 | $44,125 | $183,709 | $797 |
| 3 | Erlanger | 19,577 | $74,147 | $217,776 | $959 |
| 4 | Versailles | 10,297 | $55,606 | $307,956 | $935 |
| 5 | Danville | 17,191 | $48,038 | $219,456 | $765 |
| 6 | Ashland | 21,542 | $51,250 | $104,334 | $793 |
| 7 | Bardstown | 13,564 | $47,654 | $232,877 | $850 |
| 8 | Paducah | 26,869 | $46,984 | $163,883 | $815 |
| 9 | Somerset | 11,998 | $33,245 | $181,592 | $812 |
| 10 | Shelbyville | 17,239 | $74,433 | $271,621 | $947 |
