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 2026 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 2026
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Population: 5,270
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $38,147
Median Home Price: $125,457
Median Rent: $793
Within the southeastern corner of Kentucky, Williamsburg shines as the most affordable gem in Kentucky. Powered by a $125,457 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 | Movers
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Population: 6,241
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $47,411
Median Home Price: $146,193
Median Rent: $762
You won’t find anywhere cheaper to live in Kentucky than Princeton, a small city in western Kentucky. Homes here are nearly as cheap as a year’s tuition at the Ivy League version of Princeton, with a median price tag of $146,193. That’s the eighth lowest median home price in Kentucky. And with folks in Princeton earning a median income of $47,411, the city is the ninth easiest place to pay off your mortgage.
Not to mention that you’ll spend the 37th lowest proportion of your salary on an apartment statewide if you choose to rent instead of buy. With all that money you’re saving on housing, you’ll have plenty to splurge when the summertime Black Patch Heritage Festival rolls around.
More on Princeton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 9,123
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $31,106
Median Home Price: $112,676
Median Rent: $598
Middlesbrough isn’t in the middle of the boroughs when it comes to affordability. The town ranks as the third most affordable city in Kentucky.
Middlesborough’s overall cost of living index of 83 is supported by low index values for utilities, services, and healthcare. According to Zillow, home prices are only $112,676, which is second cheapest in the state.
More on Middlesborough: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,753
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $44,952
Median Home Price: $158,807
Median Rent: $779
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 11th lowest in home values at $158,807 and rent is only $779 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 | Movers
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Population: 12,216
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $34,704
Median Home Price: $191,314
Median Rent: $775
Somerset is a home rule-class city in Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States. The city population was 11,196 according to the 2010 census.
More on Somerset: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,819
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $44,347
Median Home Price: $166,230
Median Rent: $621
Leitchfield is the county seat of Grayson County, Kentucky, United States. Leitchfield is a home rule-class city with a population of 6,699 as of the 2010 census.
More on Leitchfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,707
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $50,885
Median Home Price: $120,967
Median Rent: $683
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 $120,967, the third cheapest price tag you’ll find in the state. And in terms of home price to income ratio, Central City is the fourth 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 | Movers
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Population: 9,868
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $40,965
Median Home Price: $158,700
Median Rent: $644
Mayfield ranked eighth for affordability in Kentucky based on low living expenses. Located in Graves County, its housing market is particularly attractive, with the third 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 | Movers
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Population: 7,316
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $45,484
Median Home Price: $187,675
Median Rent: $738
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 9 cheapest location in Kentucky.
It’s easy to find an affordable place to live in Russellville. The median home value comes in at $187,675, 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 $738 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 6.44%.
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 | Movers
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: 6,458
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $54,647
Median Home Price: $236,039
Median Rent: $770
Cynthiana is a home rule-class city in Harrison County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 6,402 at the 2010 census. It is the seat of its county.
More on Cynthiana: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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.
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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.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Bluegrass State for 2026
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 2020-2024 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 2026. This report reflects our eleventh 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 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Kentucky.
The cheapest cities in Kentucky are Williamsburg, Princeton, Middlesborough, Monticello, Somerset, Leitchfield, Central City, Mayfield, Russellville, and Cynthiana.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Kentucky according to the data:
- Union
- Middletown
- St. Matthews
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Kentucky
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamsburg | 5,270 | 81 | $38,147 | $125,457 | $793 |
| 2 | Princeton | 6,241 | 82 | $47,411 | $146,193 | $762 |
| 3 | Middlesborough | 9,123 | 83 | $31,106 | $112,676 | $598 |
| 4 | Monticello | 5,753 | 84 | $44,952 | $158,807 | $779 |
| 5 | Somerset | 12,216 | 85 | $34,704 | $191,314 | $775 |
| 6 | Leitchfield | 6,819 | 85 | $44,347 | $166,230 | $621 |
| 7 | Central City | 5,707 | 85 | $50,885 | $120,967 | $683 |
| 8 | Mayfield | 9,868 | 86 | $40,965 | $158,700 | $644 |
| 9 | Russellville | 7,316 | 86 | $45,484 | $187,675 | $738 |
| 10 | Cynthiana | 6,458 | 86 | $54,647 | $236,039 | $770 |
| 11 | Lebanon | 6,430 | 86 | $45,479 | $227,854 | $701 |
| 12 | Hopkinsville | 30,906 | 87 | $49,139 | $195,679 | $902 |
| 13 | Henderson | 27,852 | 87 | $48,186 | $198,771 | $771 |
| 14 | Ashland | 21,295 | 87 | $52,715 | $121,323 | $872 |
| 15 | Shively | 15,638 | 87 | $50,221 | $174,484 | $899 |
| 16 | Glasgow | 15,197 | 87 | $43,074 | $214,445 | $849 |
| 17 | Harrodsburg | 9,313 | 87 | $48,381 | $237,088 | $790 |
| 18 | Highland Heights | 6,444 | 87 | $53,275 | $205,650 | $1,144 |
| 19 | Covington | 41,110 | 88 | $61,166 | $221,429 | $1,006 |
| 20 | Radcliff | 22,864 | 88 | $58,559 | $209,910 | $971 |
| 21 | Corbin | 8,246 | 88 | $51,065 | $176,478 | $733 |
| 22 | Flatwoods | 7,269 | 88 | $59,972 | $142,236 | $940 |
| 23 | Owensboro | 60,302 | 89 | $56,357 | $209,851 | $905 |
| 24 | Paducah | 26,845 | 89 | $49,915 | $191,091 | $834 |
| 25 | Madisonville | 19,515 | 89 | $53,860 | $159,337 | $838 |
| 26 | Franklin | 10,360 | 89 | $59,052 | $247,588 | $1,010 |
| 27 | Paris | 10,160 | 89 | $55,839 | $256,361 | $832 |
| 28 | Maysville | 8,737 | 89 | $39,013 | $157,413 | $699 |
| 29 | London | 7,561 | 89 | $47,591 | $182,770 | $815 |
| 30 | Hazard | 5,008 | 89 | $51,016 | $102,373 | $720 |
| 31 | Winchester | 19,213 | 90 | $54,378 | $256,848 | $916 |
| 32 | Newport | 13,967 | 90 | $60,853 | $242,641 | $1,087 |
| 33 | Campbellsville | 11,622 | 90 | $49,644 | $209,816 | $685 |
| 34 | Mount Sterling | 7,551 | 90 | $55,827 | $218,630 | $699 |
| 35 | Dayton | 5,743 | 90 | $65,992 | $200,111 | $1,137 |
| 36 | Richmond | 37,111 | 91 | $50,870 | $297,032 | $917 |
| 37 | Nicholasville | 32,197 | 91 | $68,503 | $320,269 | $1,147 |
| 38 | Frankfort | 28,503 | 91 | $53,073 | $240,679 | $944 |
| 39 | Danville | 17,327 | 91 | $52,646 | $247,084 | $762 |
| 40 | Bardstown | 13,804 | 91 | $51,381 | $262,583 | $977 |
| 41 | Erlanger | 19,875 | 92 | $75,840 | $245,646 | $970 |
| 42 | Murray | 18,080 | 92 | $44,091 | $198,097 | $870 |
| 43 | Berea | 15,786 | 92 | $59,495 | $247,721 | $835 |
| 44 | Shepherdsville | 14,533 | 92 | $71,476 | $285,269 | $943 |
| 45 | Lawrenceburg | 11,943 | 92 | $66,486 | $261,325 | $954 |
| 46 | Elsmere | 9,205 | 92 | $60,503 | $222,954 | $1,351 |
| 47 | Oak Grove | 7,962 | 92 | $49,354 | $210,938 | $1,197 |
| 48 | Bellevue | 5,636 | 92 | $71,166 | $245,118 | $1,265 |
| 49 | Florence | 32,803 | 93 | $71,003 | $286,328 | $1,329 |
| 50 | Elizabethtown | 32,576 | 93 | $60,760 | $268,312 | $909 |
| 51 | Versailles | 10,492 | 93 | $62,368 | $348,651 | $1,160 |
| 52 | Morehead | 6,870 | 93 | $36,741 | $179,843 | $800 |
| 53 | Hillview | 8,797 | 94 | $68,111 | $224,674 | $1,316 |
| 54 | Taylor Mill | 6,937 | 94 | $88,546 | $276,590 | $1,139 |
| 55 | Bowling Green | 75,388 | 95 | $48,873 | $288,241 | $998 |
| 56 | Wilmore | 6,057 | 95 | $77,665 | $311,533 | $975 |
| 57 | Independence | 29,392 | 96 | $102,361 | $323,030 | $1,250 |
| 58 | Walton | 5,730 | 96 | $77,917 | $349,337 | $1,306 |
| 59 | Georgetown | 39,117 | 97 | $80,088 | $336,540 | $1,255 |
| 60 | Mount Washington | 18,480 | 97 | $96,239 | $325,405 | $1,008 |
| 61 | La Grange | 10,311 | 97 | $88,464 | $392,371 | $1,143 |
| 62 | Pikeville | 7,490 | 97 | $39,955 | $123,118 | $862 |
| 63 | Alexandria | 10,562 | 98 | $102,239 | $338,680 | $1,195 |
| 64 | Shelbyville | 17,668 | 99 | $75,610 | $305,922 | $1,033 |
| 65 | Villa Hills | 7,480 | 99 | $107,859 | $393,017 | $1,412 |
| 66 | Vine Grove | 6,830 | 99 | $72,560 | $269,116 | $1,334 |
| 67 | Cold Spring | 6,341 | 99 | $75,000 | $302,336 | $1,191 |
| 68 | Fort Wright | 5,887 | 100 | $105,024 | $334,171 | $1,142 |
| 69 | Jeffersontown | 29,199 | 101 | $81,506 | $282,762 | $1,320 |
| 70 | Edgewood | 8,447 | 101 | $119,028 | $361,114 | $1,073 |
| 71 | Fort Thomas | 17,169 | 103 | $104,350 | $368,292 | $1,126 |
| 72 | Lyndon | 11,030 | 103 | $65,679 | $312,200 | $1,246 |
| 73 | Fort Mitchell | 8,713 | 107 | $86,310 | $398,734 | $1,039 |
| 74 | Crestwood | 6,356 | 107 | $108,046 | $481,031 | $1,188 |
| 75 | Douglass Hills | 5,474 | 107 | $78,482 | $390,588 | $1,353 |
| 76 | St. Matthews | 17,577 | 108 | $82,412 | $381,227 | $1,369 |
| 77 | Middletown | 9,763 | 108 | $82,537 | $378,971 | $1,502 |
| 78 | Union | 7,642 | 116 | $136,712 | $449,092 | $1,657 |