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
Hunting in Kentucky?
Kentucky has very lenient seasons and bag limits, bow season is around 3 months long for deer. We get fall and spring turkey season, Kentuck...
reddit.com ↗
11th and final doe of the season. All tagged out. : r/Hunting
11th and final doe of the season. 10 antlerless deer tags a year. Elk and Mule deer tag … cooking and hunting go hand in hand. Deer chops wi...
reddit.com ↗
What state do you think is the most over looked : r/Hunting
Great elk hunting in the northern and east parts, healthy elk herds in the country. Kentucky has good Deer, Bear and Elk hunting … deer duri...
reddit.com ↗
What are the deer limits during your season? : r/Hunting
Season spans from August through December but August and September are buck only. Easily additional restrictions. The climate is too harsh f...
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
Andy Beshear Is What’s Wrong With the Democratic Party in the Trump Era - The Nation
The Nation · Jul 24
Democrat Rocky Adkins officially enters Kentucky governor race - Kentucky Lantern
Kentucky Lantern · Jul 21
Central Kentucky housing market sees increase in inventory, listings and new transactions in June - The Lane Report
The Lane Report · Jul 24
Kentucky leaders cite a budget surplus but have different opinions on what it means - WCHS
WCHS · Jul 24
Opportunity Village to bring affordable apartments to Louisville’s West End - Spectrum News
Spectrum News · Jul 24
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 ↗
Pros and cons of living in Ohio vs Kentucky - Cincinnati
Lifelong Cincinnative; I have my opinions, I want to hear yours. Taxes, housing, culture/stuff to do, schools, etc…...
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 ↗
What are the pros and cons of living in Kentucky?
Cost of living is low everywhere you go, Rural areas can be cheaper land and taxes, but the cost of groceries, gas, etc. The cost of living is ......
reddit.com ↗
Moving across the river : r/cincinnati
You'll be responsible for Kentucky income taxes and Ohio has reciprocity. You won't need to complete an Ohio tax return after the year you move....
reddit.com ↗
thinking of moving from massachusetts to kentucky
KY is a beautiful state, taxes are low and most of the people are very kind. 6 % SALES TAX. NO TAX ON FOOD. cost of living is good, property ......
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
Kentucky has a local tax. It's about as much as the state tax....
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 ↗
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.