Kentucky moving guide

Where should I move in Kentucky?

We ranked 18 Kentucky cities with 20,000+ residents on home affordability (income vs. home value), unemployment, education and population growth. Here are the top 15.

1. 1

   Independence

   Home $240,500 · Rent $1,204 · Income $98,653 · Unemployment 2.8%
   88/100
2. 2

   Georgetown

   Home $244,200 · Rent $1,199 · Income $78,373 · Unemployment 3.9%
   75/100
3. 3

   Florence

   Home $196,200 · Rent $1,199 · Income $68,508 · Unemployment 2.7%
   72/100
4. 4

   Jeffersontown

   Home $236,800 · Rent $1,253 · Income $78,185 · Unemployment 3.4%
   72/100
5. 5

   Covington

   Home $167,900 · Rent $949 · Income $58,814 · Unemployment 4.6%
   62/100
6. 6

   Nicholasville

   Home $210,700 · Rent $996 · Income $67,514 · Unemployment 3.3%
   60/100
7. 7

   Richmond

   Home $205,900 · Rent $860 · Income $48,223 · Unemployment 6.7%
   49/100
8. 8

   Lexington

   Home $272,100 · Rent $1,101 · Income $67,631 · Unemployment 5.0%
   47/100
9. 9

   Bowling Green

   Home $232,100 · Rent $948 · Income $48,419 · Unemployment 5.1%
   46/100
10. 10

    Owensboro

    Home $162,900 · Rent $900 · Income $53,295 · Unemployment 4.8%
    46/100
11. 11

    Paducah

    Home $164,600 · Rent $817 · Income $51,243 · Unemployment 3.5%
    46/100
12. 12

    Elizabethtown

    Home $223,200 · Rent $876 · Income $56,250 · Unemployment 5.6%
    44/100
13. 13

    Henderson

    Home $151,400 · Rent $788 · Income $47,176 · Unemployment 2.6%
    38/100
14. 14

    Louisville

    Home $221,500 · Rent $1,069 · Income $64,731 · Unemployment 5.0%
    37/100
15. 15

    Hopkinsville

    Home $140,200 · Rent $869 · Income $47,428 · Unemployment 8.1%
    32/100

Statewide, Kentucky recorded 1,496 crimes per 100,000 people in 2025 — #38 highest of 50 states (FBI).

Also see: Best counties in Kentucky to live

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023); FBI Crime Data Explorer.