Everyone has been racing to find the cheapest places to live in Kentucky.
While they have been jockeying for positions, you did the smart thing and came to us. We used Saturday Night Science to evaluate the latest Kentucky Census data on low home prices, cost of living, and favorable real estate conditions to find the most affordable places in the Bluegrass State.
With your newfound savings on rent, you can afford a ticket to the Kentucky Derby this year.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Kentucky
What’s the cheapest place to live in Kentucky? The most affordable place in Kentucky for 2024 is Williamsburg.
Kentucky companies like Jif and Post-it Notes provide good jobs for people living in affordable Kentucky cities. Coincidentally, we can thank Kentucky’s educational institutions, like the University of Louisville, for producing intelligent, hard-working Kentuckians who want to make Kentucky affordable.
Good jobs translate to higher pay. So, even hip millennial cities like Des Moines and fantastic college cities like Lexington are affordable in Kentucky.
Check out some more reading about Kentucky and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Kentucky For 2024
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Population: 5,229
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 76
Median Income: $33,875
Median Home Price: $88,110
Median Rent: $660
Within the southeastern corner of Kentucky, Williamsburg shines as the most affordable gem in Kentucky. Powered by a $88,110 median home value, it’s 5% cheaper than the closest competitor.
In cost of living rankings, we have found that home prices and rent will be the most significant factors. Williamsburg is no different, and that extra money will free you up to visit the Kentucky Splash Waterpark or Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.
More on Williamsburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 7,186
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $45,484
Median Home Price: $181,096
Median Rent: $679
Named for Revolutionary War General William Russell, Russellville is located in the southern part of the state. It has a long history dating back to the 18th century that includes a famous bank robbery that may have involved Jesse James. These days, the town has another distinction: it ranks as the number 2 cheapest location in Kentucky.
It’s easy to find an affordable place to live in Russellville. The median home value comes in at $181,096, one of the lowest figures in the state. Even if you’re not in the housing market, you can find a good deal on an apartment. The median rent comes in at $679 per month.
Overall, the cost of living in town reaches 80% of the national average. The cheap housing makes up most of this value, though you’ll also save money on groceries and health care. These savings are important, because the area’s economy is tough. The median income hovers at $45,484, while the unemployment rate is 9.21%.
Russellville generally sits in a rural area. However, if the desire for big-city entertainment strikes you, it’s an hour-and-15-minute drive to Nashville, Tennessee. Or you can stay in town and enjoy the local Tobacco and Heritage Festival.
More on Russellville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
We have a lot of people that get arrested for met here and Other Drugs there’s a lot of people that are on welfare we have people that are on Medicaid and stuff and now the governor he cut a lot of programs we can’t get if your low income if your on Medicaid you can’t get vision coverage or you can Dentistry covers no more and if you’re a diabetic like I’m that’s s***s
The good thing here is there’s a lot of good Christian people here in lot of good church that’s a lot of people that care about you
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Population: 8,611
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $52,929
Median Home Price: $155,672
Median Rent: $699
Kentucky Fried Chicken opened up its first location in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930. That’s a fantastic legacy all on its own. But Corbin has another thing going for it as well: it ranks at number 3 on the list of most affordable towns in Kentucky.
The 8,611 inhabitants of Corbin get quite a deal. The cost of living in town equates to a more than 20% discount from the national average. You’ll find cheap transportation and services in the area. Most of all, you’ll get low-cost housing.
The median home value for the community comes in at $155,672. Rents are equally affordable. The median value there stands at $699 per month. Crime is about 20% below the U.S. norm and the median income is $52,929.
Looking for something to do in Corbin? Of course, you can check out the modern versions of KFC. Or if you want a sense of the old-time version, head over to the Harland Sanders Caf and Museum, located in North Corbin.
More on Corbin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,770
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $43,353
Median Home Price: $136,290
Median Rent: $739
Monticello is located in central Kentucky about a three hour drive from each of Louisville, Nashville, and Knoxville in Wayne County. The town claims to be the “Houseboat Capital of the World” because of the various houseboat manufacturers with headquarters in town. People come to visit for local attractions around hiking, parks, and fishing in nearby Cumberland River.
In terms of affordability, the city ranks tenth lowest in home values at $136,290 and rent is only $739 per month. The overall cost of living in Monticello is about 20% lower than the Kentucky average and 30% lower than the national average. While real estate is considerably less expensive, basically every facet of live costs a little less in Monticello.
More on Monticello: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 9,383
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $35,798
Median Home Price: $97,055
Median Rent: $623
Middlesbrough isn’t in the middle of the boroughs when it comes to affordability. The town ranks as the fifth most affordable city in Kentucky.
Middlesborough’s overall cost of living index of 82 is supported by low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare. According to Zillow, home prices are only $97,055, which is fourth cheapest in the state.
More on Middlesborough: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 10,141
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $54,784
Median Home Price: $223,713
Median Rent: $984
Along the Kentucky-Tennessee border, you’ll find Franklin, the sixth cheapest city in Kentucky. With a median home value at $45.0 and a cost of living index at 84, it’s an inexpensive place to call home in Kentucky. The overall cost of living index is 9 points lower than the state average.
That extra savings lets you have more fun on a trip to Bowling Green or Nashville for a holiday.
More on Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,740
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $52,184
Median Home Price: $109,487
Median Rent: $711
Located between Bowling Green and Owensboro, Central City ranks as the seventh least expensive city in Kentucky.
You won’t be sacrificing safety for affordability if you choose to live in Central City, because it’s among the safest places in Kentucky. Homes in Central City go for about $109,487, the fifth cheapest price tag you’ll find in the state. And in terms of home price to income ratio, Central City is the third best statewide. Only a slightly less affordable market for renters keeps Central City from the #1 spot on this list.
More on Central City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 15,043
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $44,125
Median Home Price: $183,709
Median Rent: $797
Glasgow secured the eighth place spot on our list of the least expensive places in Kentucky. Located in the low-cost area of Barren County, the town has a $183,709 median home cost.
The overall cost of living index of 85 is supported by low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare. That means you can buy more burgoo and derby pie ingredients on your next grocery store run.
More on Glasgow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 31,042
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $43,577
Median Home Price: $170,550
Median Rent: $857
Let’s hop to the next place in our rankings of the most affordable cities in Kentucky, Hopkinsville. The overall cost of living is 7.5% lower than the state average in Hopkinsville in part due to a $857 average rent.
The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is only about 30 minutes for a fun, cheap weekend activity with the family. And transportation costs are relatively low in Hopkinsville, so you won’t even mind the cost of gas.
More on Hopkinsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 10,011
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $42,589
Median Home Price: $130,153
Median Rent: $582
Mayfield ranked tenth for affordability in Kentucky based on low living expenses. Located in Graves County, its housing market is particularly attractive, with the lowest median rent statewide.
The overall cost of living index of 86 is supported by low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare. That saves money to spend for a weekend trip to Nashville or Saint Louis.
More on Mayfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Kentucky FAQs
The county in Kentucky with the lowest cost of living is Bell County. The average living wage in Bell County is $74,521 according to MIT data. Bell County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Kentucky as a whole. Childcare costs $8,510 a year in Bell County for two children compared to the Kentucky average of $14,955. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $7,956 per year in Bell County compared to $9,708 on average in Kentucky.
The cost of living in Kentucky is 6.6% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Kentucky is $83,862 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Kentucky household is $52,238.
The cheapest housing market in Kentucky is Middlesborough. The average home value in Middlesborough is $72,400, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Kentucky is $147,100, almost 2.0 times higher than Middlesborough.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Bluegrass State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Kentucky boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Kentucky using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Kentucky to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 78 places in Kentucky that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Kentucky with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Williamsburg.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Kentucky.
Kentucky Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Kentucky for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Kentucky.
The cheapest cities in Kentucky are Williamsburg, Russellville, Corbin, Monticello, Middlesborough, Franklin, Central City, Glasgow, Hopkinsville, and Mayfield.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Kentucky according to the data:
- Union
- Douglass Hills
- Crestwood
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
- Best Places To Buy A House In Kentucky
- Best Places To Live In Kentucky
- Most Dangerous Cities In Kentucky
Cheapest Places To Live In Kentucky
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamsburg | 5,229 | 76 | $33,875 | $88,110 | $660 |
| 2 | Russellville | 7,186 | 80 | $45,484 | $181,096 | $679 |
| 3 | Corbin | 8,611 | 81 | $52,929 | $155,672 | $699 |
| 4 | Monticello | 5,770 | 81 | $43,353 | $136,290 | $739 |
| 5 | Middlesborough | 9,383 | 82 | $35,798 | $97,055 | $623 |
| 6 | Franklin | 10,141 | 84 | $54,784 | $223,713 | $984 |
| 7 | Central City | 5,740 | 84 | $52,184 | $109,487 | $711 |
| 8 | Glasgow | 15,043 | 85 | $44,125 | $183,709 | $797 |
| 9 | Hopkinsville | 31,042 | 86 | $43,577 | $170,550 | $857 |
| 10 | Mayfield | 10,011 | 86 | $42,589 | $130,153 | $582 |
| 11 | Oak Grove | 7,895 | 86 | $40,740 | $187,947 | $1,059 |
| 12 | Leitchfield | 6,432 | 86 | $43,214 | $171,337 | $605 |
| 13 | Princeton | 6,248 | 86 | $46,317 | $115,834 | $695 |
| 14 | Henderson | 28,166 | 87 | $46,276 | $176,516 | $762 |
| 15 | Shively | 15,595 | 87 | $45,953 | $148,818 | $824 |
| 16 | Somerset | 11,998 | 87 | $33,245 | $181,592 | $812 |
| 17 | Bowling Green | 72,385 | 88 | $47,118 | $265,897 | $931 |
| 18 | Murray | 17,414 | 88 | $37,421 | $163,997 | $762 |
| 19 | Campbellsville | 11,434 | 88 | $53,254 | $178,765 | $655 |
| 20 | Harrodsburg | 9,057 | 88 | $49,293 | $196,771 | $707 |
| 21 | Maysville | 8,831 | 88 | $41,171 | $131,500 | $690 |
| 22 | Flatwoods | 7,312 | 88 | $58,294 | $123,058 | $922 |
| 23 | Cynthiana | 6,355 | 88 | $46,601 | $180,289 | $657 |
| 24 | Hazard | 5,194 | 88 | $65,846 | $92,026 | $714 |
| 25 | Covington | 40,923 | 89 | $53,770 | $181,857 | $877 |
| 26 | Madisonville | 19,433 | 89 | $54,234 | $143,015 | $854 |
| 27 | Lebanon | 6,274 | 89 | $37,500 | $185,248 | $634 |
| 28 | Owensboro | 60,019 | 90 | $51,982 | $186,902 | $888 |
| 29 | Lawrenceburg | 11,749 | 90 | $58,935 | $223,391 | $849 |
| 30 | Mount Sterling | 7,532 | 90 | $47,408 | $184,088 | $612 |
| 31 | Frankfort | 28,460 | 91 | $53,905 | $209,529 | $889 |
| 32 | Paducah | 26,869 | 91 | $46,984 | $163,883 | $815 |
| 33 | Winchester | 19,080 | 91 | $50,982 | $224,257 | $832 |
| 34 | Berea | 15,404 | 91 | $54,481 | $216,269 | $779 |
| 35 | Bardstown | 13,564 | 91 | $47,654 | $232,877 | $850 |
| 36 | Paris | 10,143 | 91 | $46,752 | $217,396 | $739 |
| 37 | London | 7,612 | 91 | $45,858 | $166,838 | $738 |
| 38 | Dayton | 5,674 | 91 | $61,432 | $173,888 | $937 |
| 39 | Nicholasville | 31,352 | 92 | $61,832 | $277,506 | $980 |
| 40 | Radcliff | 22,981 | 92 | $54,558 | $191,577 | $897 |
| 41 | Versailles | 10,297 | 92 | $55,606 | $307,956 | $935 |
| 42 | Elsmere | 9,126 | 92 | $61,890 | $198,526 | $1,263 |
| 43 | Hillview | 8,681 | 92 | $63,578 | $196,339 | $1,321 |
| 44 | Newport | 14,190 | 93 | $50,278 | $198,174 | $842 |
| 45 | Morehead | 7,001 | 93 | $32,020 | $150,504 | $739 |
| 46 | Louisville | 629,176 | 94 | $63,114 | $231,566 | $1,014 |
| 47 | Richmond | 34,883 | 94 | $45,457 | $259,818 | $832 |
| 48 | Erlanger | 19,577 | 94 | $74,147 | $217,776 | $959 |
| 49 | Danville | 17,191 | 94 | $48,038 | $219,456 | $765 |
| 50 | Vine Grove | 6,611 | 94 | $74,035 | $237,941 | $1,293 |
| 51 | Highland Heights | 6,566 | 94 | $44,910 | $186,185 | $1,016 |
| 52 | Bellevue | 5,596 | 94 | $66,741 | $215,115 | $952 |
| 53 | Florence | 32,056 | 95 | $67,352 | $257,002 | $1,118 |
| 54 | Mount Washington | 17,987 | 95 | $91,185 | $286,136 | $834 |
| 55 | Shepherdsville | 14,136 | 95 | $71,875 | $228,290 | $878 |
| 56 | Pikeville | 7,563 | 95 | $41,324 | $82,759 | $832 |
| 57 | La Grange | 10,073 | 96 | $72,265 | $357,217 | $1,138 |
| 58 | Elizabethtown | 31,425 | 97 | $54,493 | $230,510 | $847 |
| 59 | Taylor Mill | 6,851 | 97 | $79,781 | $245,188 | $1,094 |
| 60 | Wilmore | 6,017 | 97 | $59,848 | $271,874 | $857 |
| 61 | Walton | 5,492 | 97 | $79,811 | $303,985 | $978 |
| 62 | Georgetown | 37,510 | 98 | $74,530 | $291,754 | $1,106 |
| 63 | Shelbyville | 17,239 | 98 | $74,433 | $271,621 | $947 |
| 64 | Alexandria | 10,322 | 99 | $100,938 | $279,406 | $1,033 |
| 65 | Independence | 28,722 | 100 | $92,355 | $283,892 | $1,183 |
| 66 | Lyndon | 10,997 | 100 | $63,806 | $281,572 | $1,159 |
| 67 | Jeffersontown | 28,796 | 101 | $78,929 | $251,563 | $1,175 |
| 68 | Fort Thomas | 17,310 | 101 | $95,391 | $316,890 | $1,025 |
| 69 | Middletown | 9,594 | 103 | $81,881 | $319,167 | $1,422 |
| 70 | Fort Mitchell | 8,667 | 103 | $74,830 | $369,881 | $924 |
| 71 | Fort Wright | 5,841 | 103 | $105,075 | $306,662 | $1,058 |
| 72 | Cold Spring | 6,258 | 104 | $76,151 | $256,036 | $1,124 |
| 73 | St. Matthews | 17,511 | 105 | $78,928 | $342,929 | $1,198 |
| 74 | Edgewood | 8,447 | 105 | $117,308 | $335,091 | $1,147 |
| 75 | Villa Hills | 7,331 | 106 | $109,196 | $341,685 | $1,122 |
| 76 | Crestwood | 6,175 | 107 | $110,147 | $424,893 | $1,093 |
| 77 | Douglass Hills | 5,466 | 109 | $90,760 | $354,085 | $1,179 |
| 78 | Union | 7,369 | 115 | $131,047 | $399,302 | $1,705 |
