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 40 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 2026
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 2026
/10
Population: 10,160
Median Income: $55,839
Median Home Price: $256,361
Median Rent: $832
Distance to Closest Airport: 62 miles
More on Paris: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,327
Median Income: $52,646
Median Home Price: $247,084
Median Rent: $762
Distance to Closest Airport: 97 miles
More on Danville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,216
Median Income: $34,704
Median Home Price: $191,314
Median Rent: $775
Distance to Closest Airport: 132 miles
More on Somerset: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,875
Median Income: $75,840
Median Home Price: $245,646
Median Rent: $970
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Erlanger: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,515
Median Income: $53,860
Median Home Price: $159,337
Median Rent: $838
Distance to Closest Airport: 95 miles
More on Madisonville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,845
Median Income: $49,915
Median Home Price: $191,091
Median Rent: $834
Distance to Closest Airport: 105 miles
More on Paducah: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,360
Median Income: $59,052
Median Home Price: $247,588
Median Rent: $1,010
Distance to Closest Airport: 41 miles
More on Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 21,295
Median Income: $52,715
Median Home Price: $121,323
Median Rent: $872
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Ashland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,169
Median Income: $104,350
Median Home Price: $368,292
Median Rent: $1,126
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Fort Thomas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,492
Median Income: $62,368
Median Home Price: $348,651
Median Rent: $1,160
Distance to Closest Airport: 69 miles
More on Versailles: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Bluegrass State for 2026
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 40 places from across the state.
For these 40, 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 40, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Danville, Somerset, Erlanger, Madisonville, Paducah, Franklin, Ashland, Fort Thomas, and Versailles.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- St. Matthews
- Lyndon
- Radcliff
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Kentucky
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris | 10,160 | $55,839 | $256,361 | $832 |
| 2 | Danville | 17,327 | $52,646 | $247,084 | $762 |
| 3 | Somerset | 12,216 | $34,704 | $191,314 | $775 |
| 4 | Erlanger | 19,875 | $75,840 | $245,646 | $970 |
| 5 | Madisonville | 19,515 | $53,860 | $159,337 | $838 |
| 6 | Paducah | 26,845 | $49,915 | $191,091 | $834 |
| 7 | Franklin | 10,360 | $59,052 | $247,588 | $1,010 |
| 8 | Ashland | 21,295 | $52,715 | $121,323 | $872 |
| 9 | Fort Thomas | 17,169 | $104,350 | $368,292 | $1,126 |
| 10 | Versailles | 10,492 | $62,368 | $348,651 | $1,160 |