So, you’re curious about living in Kentucky? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Kentucky.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Kentucky matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Kentucky is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Kentucky
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Kentucky is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Kentucky:
- Cost of living is relatively low, yet there are still decent opportunities for work.
- Kentucky has a lot of natural beauty, including lakes, caves and caverns.
- Kentucky is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, which claims to have more than 14 million visitors each year!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Kentucky:
- The winters can be harsh with long periods without snow or rain.
- There are few large cities in Kentucky outside of Lexington and Louisville. This means that it may feel like you’re living in a small town even if you live near a major city or metropolitan area.
Read More: Is Kentucky a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Kentucky
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Kentucky? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Kentucky!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Kentucky.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Kentucky:
- Edgewood
- Fort Thomas
- Lexington
- Louisville
Read More: Best Places to Live in Kentucky
Checklist for Moving to Kentucky
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Kentucky. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Kentucky.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Kentucky:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Kentucky driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Kentucky
- Getting Kentucky car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Kentucky and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Kentucky.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Kentucky and your previous home state.
Visit your Kentucky Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Kentucky Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Kentucky.
Things to Know About Living in Kentucky
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Kentucky, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Kentucky
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Kentucky ranks 20th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 94.5, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Kentucky scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 93.3
- Housing: 80.1
- Utilities: 104.2
- Transportation: 101.6
- Health: 82.2
- Miscellaneous: 103.7
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Kentucky
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Kentucky from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Kentucky’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%.
Check with the Kentucky tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Kentucky
If you own or plan to own real estate in Kentucky, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Kentucky ranks 23rd (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.86%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Kentucky tax office for the most current tax rates.
Kentucky’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Kentucky is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Kentucky ranks 28th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Professional and business services
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Finance and insurance
- Transportation and warehousing
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
The top employer in Kentucky is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Kentucky
Our Kentucky moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Kentucky is Churchill Downs.
National Parks that you can visit in Kentucky include:
- Mammoth Cave National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Kentucky include:
- Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument
- Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Kentucky
Kentucky is the 15th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Indiana and Ohio, to its south is Tennessee, to its east is West Virginia and Virginia, and to its west is Illinois and Missouri.
What is the capital of Kentucky?
The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort.
Frankfort is located in Franklin County with a population of 25,527.
What is the population of Kentucky?
The population of Kentucky based on 2020 US Census data is 4,505,836.
What is the largest city in Kentucky?
The largest city in Kentucky is Louisville.
Louisville has a population of 620,578, and it is located in Jefferson County.
What is the size of Kentucky?
Kentucky is 40,408 square miles, making it the 37th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Kentucky?
The state motto of Kentucky is: United we stand, divided we fall
What is the state bird of Kentucky?
The state bird of Kentucky is the Northern cardinal.
What is the state flower of Kentucky?
The state flower of Kentucky is the Goldenrod.
What is the state tree of Kentucky?
The state tree of Kentucky is the Tulip-tree.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Kentucky?
The minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Kentucky?
The median annual household salary in Kentucky is $50,247.