A life in Rockcastle County, Kentucky

Where you are

You live in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. 16,171 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +85).

Kentucky moved to a flat income tax of 4% and exempts the first $31,110 of pension and retirement income per person. It has an inheritance tax, but spouses, children, parents and siblings are exempt. Home prices are among the lowest in the country outside Louisville and Lexington, and the state has some of the cheapest electricity, much of it still coal-fired.

Money

The typical household here brings in $45,693 a year, lower than 87% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $41,657. Unemployment runs 4.6%, higher than 83% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 24 minutes each way.

Kentucky takes 4.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,828 a year.

Home

The median home costs $152K, cheaper than 83% of American counties, about 1.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $614 a month. Property tax is 0.54% of home value, roughly $546 a year on that median home, lower than 83% of American counties. 76% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 5.4 per 1,000 residents, higher than almost every county in America. Drug overdoses killed 41 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 70.8 years, shorter than 94% of American counties. There are 14 active physicians in the county, about 8.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 9.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.26 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 76% of American counties. 82% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 70 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 59% of eligible voters turned out. Under Kentucky law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 67 and lows near 46, warmer than 53% of American counties. About 64 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 18 out of 100, safer than 82% of American counties; the county has had 34 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 142 Mbps down, slower than 74% of American counties. There are 0 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.3 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Sources for this story

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• DataSpine derived — ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Kentucky tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.