Kentucky
R+26 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 85
4%
Income Tax
228
Violent Crime / 100K
73.5
Life Expectancy
$215K
Median Home
$890
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Get notified when Kentucky tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Taxes
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Income Tax
Property Tax
~$1,677/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance tax on non-spouse/child heirs
Inheritance Tax
⚠ Your heirs pay this tax on what you leave them — even if you have no estate tax. PA charges 4.5% to children from dollar one.
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
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Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
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Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Among the most dangerous
Healthcare
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State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
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K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
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Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Below national avg
Utilities & Daily Costs
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Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
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Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
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Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.4/100K residents — Growing
Craft Distilleries
One of the nation's top distillery states
Live Music
Bourbon Trail is world-class (115+ distilleries); Louisville Bourbon & Beyond festival; Forecastle Fest
Transportation
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Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
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Abortion Access
Near-total ban; trigger law took effect after Dobbs
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
No casinos but famous for horse racing (Kentucky Derby). Sports betting launched 2023. Historical horse racing machines legal.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Rock Haven Lodge (Brandenburg) · Kentucky naturists
Environment & Climate
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Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
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2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors
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Kentucky's archery season runs from Labor Day through January — one of the longest in the country. Strong trophy whitetail genetics in central Kentucky.
Kentucky Dept of Fish & Wildlife — Official Season Dates ↗Finding nearby venues...
From r/hunting
Kentucky Elk Hunting
Was wondering if anyone here has had success hunting elk in Kentucky, if you hunted public land where did you go, And how rough is the count...
reddit.com ↗
Best Kentucky elk guides? : r/Hunting
On the very off chance that I win an elk tag this year, who are the best elk guides in Kentucky for rifle and bow?...
reddit.com ↗
Hunting in Kentucky?
Kentucky has very lenient seasons and bag limits, bow season is around 3 months long for deer. ... r/Hunting - Wife's first deer (and first ...
reddit.com ↗
Kentucky Elk : r/Hunting
Anyone ever been drawn for a KY elk? I got picked for a zone 4 cow rifle. I've been scouting some land but live 3 hours away, ......
reddit.com ↗
Why we recommend them
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Jobs & Economy
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Job Market
+1.2% job growth · 4% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Business Climate
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Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Daily Life
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Gas Price (Regular)
Well below avg (-0.28 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal statewide
Weather & Natural Risks
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Winter Severity
Avg January high: 42°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
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Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Armadillo Leprosy Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
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Veteran-Friendly Score
7.1% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Up to $40,500 homestead exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Kentucky counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Kentucky
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
Compare Similar States
KY vs AR
Kentucky vs Arkansas
COL 85 vs 85 · 4% vs 3.9% income tax
Full comparison →
KY vs KS
Kentucky vs Kansas
COL 85 vs 86 · 4% vs 5.7% income tax
Full comparison →
KY vs MO
Kentucky vs Missouri
COL 85 vs 86 · 4% vs 4.7% income tax
Full comparison →
KY vs AL
Kentucky vs Alabama
COL 85 vs 87 · 4% vs 5% income tax
Full comparison →
Trending in Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Beshear extends gas tax reduction for 33 cities, counties - WLWT
WLWT · Jun 9
Breaking their silence: Former Kentucky governor’s family opens up amid legal battle with adopted son - FOX 56 News
FOX 56 News · Jun 10
Kentucky governor extends state gas tax reduction in several cities, counties - WCHS
WCHS · Jun 9
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear rallies with Iowa governor candidate Rob Sand - Iowa Capital Dispatch
Iowa Capital Dispatch · Jun 8
WKU Board of Regents approves FY 2027 operating budget - Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University · Jun 5
What Residents Say
Is Kentucky Really Affordable? : r/Louisville
Income calculators estimate I'd be paying around $410 a month in state and county income taxes, which is about 6.7% (4.5% for Kentucky and 2.2% ......
reddit.com ↗
Smart Asset Lists Kentucky as #49 in Cost of Living
$67K for a single person, $125k if you one parent stays at home, $155k if both parents work (and you have $26k in childcare a year, plus more taxes)....
reddit.com ↗
What's it like living in Kentucky?
My girlfriend and myself are currently living in Connecticut, lifelong residents, but as taxes and laws get worse and worse here we're looking to jump ......
reddit.com ↗
Pros and cons of living on the Ohio VS Kentucky side ...
Lifelong Cincinnative; I have my opinions, I want to hear yours. Taxes, housing, culture/stuff to do, schools, etc…...
reddit.com ↗
What are the pros and cons of living in Kentucky?
Pros of Kentucky: Cost of living is low everywhere you go, including Louisville, though it's obviously cheaper in the rural areas. Access to the ......
reddit.com ↗
How does Kentucky compare to TN?
We are thinking about moving from East TN to find something more rural but still within a reasonable commute to jobs. We are currently looking ......
reddit.com ↗
Cost of Living Comparison: OH vs KY - Lexington
Income tax: Kentucky is a flat 4.5% and I believe Oh is 2.75% for anything under $80K. Both Lexington and Cincinnati have local income tax, but ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking of moving to Lexington from out of state
My only concern I have at the moment is leaving a state with no state income tax for Kentucky, which has a 5% state tax, and Lexington which has ......
reddit.com ↗
Affordability of Covington (KY) vs. Cincy : r/cincinnati
Kentucky has a flat income tax in addition to vehicle taxes. Rent might be a little bit less but it may be a wash if your taxes are higher. The ......
reddit.com ↗
Working in Ohio, living in Northern KY? : r/cincinnati
So far, I've found that KY income tax is higher (5.8% for my income bracket 3.79%), and Covington income tax is 2.5% (vs. 2.1% in Cincinnati)....
reddit.com ↗
Stay Current
Get notified when Kentucky tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.