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. We get fall and spring turkey season,...
reddit.com ↗
Kentucky elk : r/Hunting
After 18 years of trying I finally got a bull modern rifle week 2 hunt, does anyone have any experience with an elk hunt?...
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
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Trending in Kentucky
After Supreme Court decision, Beshear’s Kentucky State Fair Board removes CEO - Kentucky Lantern
Kentucky Lantern · Jul 2
Andy Beshear shares advice, stories during Centre visit with Kentucky Governor’s Scholars - Centre College
Centre College · Jul 1
UK budget: Expanding jobs, healthcare and student support to advance Kentucky - UKNow
UKNow · Jun 30
Mitch McConnell Health Questions Raise Kentucky Senate Succession Issues - Newsweek
Newsweek · Jul 5
Kentucky governor signs bill requiring insurance coverage for prosthetics - Yahoo
Yahoo · Jul 6
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?
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 ↗
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
Depends on what part of the state, but KY is a beautiful state, taxes are low and most of the people are very kind....
reddit.com ↗
To Kentucky?
My family and I are thinking of a few states we might want to relocate to. A job is not an issue. But I’d like pros and cons from real people that’s ......
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 ↗
Cost of Living Comparison: OH vs KY - Lexington
Kentucky allows a pension exclusion of up to $31,110. It's good, but Ohio's 0% is better. Income tax KY - 4.5% OH - 0-3.75%. Property tax (state ......
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.