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Best counties to live in Kentucky

What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it’s a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Kentucky using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#24. Whitley County

– Population: 36,131
– Median home value: $92,500 (69% own)
– Median rent: $604 (31% rent)
– Median household income: $39,005
– Top public schools: Corbin Intermediate School (A), Whitley Central Intermediate School (A), Whitley County North Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools:
– Top places to live: Williamsburg (B), Corbin (B), Emlyn (B)

Jim.henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Hopkins County

– Population: 45,331
– Median home value: $108,700 (69% own)
– Median rent: $715 (31% rent)
– Median household income: $47,170
– Top public schools: Pride Elementary School (A), Madisonville North Hopkins High School (A), West Broadway Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: Grace Baptist School (B+), Christ the King School (unavailable), CornerStone Preparatory School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Madisonville (B), Mortons Gap (B), Earlington (B)

Paul Sableman // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Graves County

– Population: 37,248
– Median home value: $104,300 (75% own)
– Median rent: $639 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $44,043
– Top public schools: Sedalia Elementary School (A), Wingo Elementary School (A), Graves County Central Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Northside Baptist Christian School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Mayfield (B), Wingo (B+), Fancy Farm (B+)

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#21. Marshall County

– Population: 31,192
– Median home value: $131,100 (81% own)
– Median rent: $690 (19% rent)
– Median household income: $55,113
– Top public schools: Marshall County High School (B+), Benton Elementary School (B), Central Elementary School (B)
– Top private schools: Christian Fellowship School (B)
– Top places to live: Benton (B), Calvert City (B), Hardin (C)

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#20. Meade County

– Population: 28,182
– Median home value: $153,500 (73% own)
– Median rent: $856 (27% rent)
– Median household income: $56,603
– Top public schools: Brandenburg Primary School (A), David T. Wilson Elementary School (A), Stuart Pepper Middle School (B+)
– Top private schools:
– Top places to live: Muldraugh (B), Doe Valley (B+), Brandenburg (B)

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#19. Pulaski County

– Population: 64,350
– Median home value: $116,200 (69% own)
– Median rent: $682 (31% rent)
– Median household income: $39,998
– Top public schools: Shopville Elementary School (A), Oak Hill Elementary School (A), Meece Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: Somerset Christian School (A), Saline Christian Academy (unavailable), Jordan Christian Academy (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Somerset (B), Ferguson (B), Eubank (B)

Murray State // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Calloway County

– Population: 38,837
– Median home value: $137,300 (62% own)
– Median rent: $705 (38% rent)
– Median household income: $42,273
– Top public schools: Murray Middle School (A+), Murray High School (A), Murray Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Eastwood Christian Academy (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Murray (B), Hazel (B), Dexter (B)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Shelby County

– Population: 47,325
– Median home value: $197,300 (70% own)
– Median rent: $849 (30% rent)
– Median household income: $67,056
– Top public schools: Martha Layne Collins High School (B+), Simpsonville Elementary School (B), Shelby County High School (B)
– Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (B)
– Top places to live: Shelbyville (B)

w.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Henderson County

– Population: 45,829
– Median home value: $128,400 (61% own)
– Median rent: $689 (39% rent)
– Median household income: $48,926
– Top public schools: Henderson County South Middle School (A), Spottsville Elementary School (A), Niagara Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Holy Name Elementary School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Henderson (B), Spottsville (B+), Robards (B)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Jessamine County

– Population: 53,032
– Median home value: $172,100 (65% own)
– Median rent: $789 (35% rent)
– Median household income: $58,245
– Top public schools: West Jessamine High School (B+), West Jessamine Middle School (B+), Rosenwald Dunbar Elementary School (B)
– Top private schools: Tabernacle Christian Academy (B), Christian Light Academy (unavailable), Creative Montessori School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Wilmore (A+), Nicholasville (B), High Bridge (C+)

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#14. Daviess County

– Population: 100,474
– Median home value: $133,600 (68% own)
– Median rent: $769 (32% rent)
– Median household income: $51,673
– Top public schools: F.T. Burns Elementary School (A), Newton Parrish Elementary School (A), Tamarack Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Owensboro Catholic High School (B), Trinity High School (C+), Owensboro Catholic Elementary School (K-3) (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Owensboro (B+), Masonville (B+), Whitesville (B)

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#13. Hardin County

– Population: 108,527
– Median home value: $156,600 (61% own)
– Median rent: $827 (39% rent)
– Median household income: $54,367
– Top public schools: Elizabethtown High School (A), Talton K. Stone Middle School (A), Lincoln Trail Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: North Hardin Christian School (B), St. James Catholic School (unavailable), Academy of Learning – Elizabethtown (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Elizabethtown (B+), Vine Grove (B+), Radcliff (B)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Scott County

– Population: 54,667
– Median home value: $189,500 (70% own)
– Median rent: $900 (30% rent)
– Median household income: $70,817
– Top public schools: Scott County Middle School (B+), Northern Elementary School (B+), Scott County High School (B+)
– Top private schools: Providence Christian Academy (unavailable), St. John School (unavailable), Childcare Network Georgetown (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Georgetown (B+), Sadieville (B+), Stamping Ground (B)

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#11. Madison County

– Population: 90,802
– Median home value: $159,300 (59% own)
– Median rent: $710 (41% rent)
– Median household income: $50,060
– Top public schools: B. Michael Caudill Middle School (A), Model Laboratory School (B+), Shannon Johnson Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: The Growing Place (unavailable), St. Mark Catholic School (unavailable), Burrier Child Development Center – Eastern Kentucky University (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Berea (A)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Franklin County

– Population: 50,529
– Median home value: $142,900 (63% own)
– Median rent: $762 (37% rent)
– Median household income: $56,274
– Top public schools: Frankfort High School (B+), Collins Lane Elementary School (B), Franklin County High School (B)
– Top private schools: The Frankfort Christian Academy (B+), Capital Day School (A+), Good Shepherd School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Frankfort (B+)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Woodford County

– Population: 26,318
– Median home value: $203,000 (71% own)
– Median rent: $771 (29% rent)
– Median household income: $63,820
– Top public schools: Woodford County Middle School (A), Huntertown Elementary School (A), Woodford County High School (A)
– Top private schools: St. Leo School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Versailles (B+)

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#8. McCracken County

– Population: 65,268
– Median home value: $143,400 (65% own)
– Median rent: $717 (35% rent)
– Median household income: $46,080
– Top public schools: Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School (A), Concord Elementary School (A), Heath Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Community Christian Academy (A)
– Top places to live: Hendron (A), Paducah (A), Reidland (B)

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#7. Warren County

– Population: 128,652
– Median home value: $167,600 (59% own)
– Median rent: $781 (41% rent)
– Median household income: $52,270
– Top public schools: The Gatton Academy (A+), Bowling Green High School (A), W.R. McNeill Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Bowling Green Christian Academy (B), Anchored Christian School (A), St. Joseph Interparochial School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Plano (A), Bowling Green (A), Woodburn (B+)

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#6. Kenton County

– Population: 165,668
– Median home value: $161,100 (66% own)
– Median rent: $811 (34% rent)
– Median household income: $64,339
– Top public schools: Beechwood High School (A), Beechwood Elementary School (A), White’s Tower Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Villa Madonna Academy (A+), Covington Latin School (A+), Notre Dame Academy (A)
– Top places to live: Fort Wright (A+), Fort Mitchell (A+), Lakeside Park (A)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Boyle County

– Population: 29,972
– Median home value: $146,400 (67% own)
– Median rent: $727 (33% rent)
– Median household income: $46,382
– Top public schools: Perryville Elementary School (A), Junction City Elementary School (A), Boyle County Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: Danville Christian Academy (A)
– Top places to live: Danville (A), Junction City (B), Perryville (A)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Boone County

– Population: 130,820
– Median home value: $189,800 (75% own)
– Median rent: $986 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $78,327
– Top public schools: Randall K. Cooper High School (A), Larry A. Ryle High School (A), Erpenbeck Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: St. Henry District High School (A), Heritage Academy (B), Immaculate Heart of Mary School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Union (A), Francisville (A), Burlington (A)

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#3. Jefferson County

– Population: 767,419
– Median home value: $170,100 (62% own)
– Median rent: $871 (38% rent)
– Median household income: $56,586
– Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (A+), Anchorage Independent Public School (A+), J. Graham Brown School (A)
– Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (A+), Louisville Collegiate School (A+), Saint Xavier High School (A+)
– Top places to live: Cherokee Seneca (A+), Cherokee Gardens (A+), Indian Hills (A+)

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Campbell County

– Population: 92,861
– Median home value: $172,000 (70% own)
– Median rent: $850 (30% rent)
– Median household income: $63,050
– Top public schools: Highlands High School (A+), Woodfill Elementary School (A+), Highlands Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: Bishop Brossart High School (A), Newport Central Catholic High School (B), St. Joseph Elementary School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Fort Thomas (A+), Wilder (A), Bellevue (A)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Oldham County

– Population: 65,967
– Median home value: $282,100 (85% own)
– Median rent: $919 (15% rent)
– Median household income: $99,128
– Top public schools: North Oldham High School (A), North Oldham Middle School (A), East Oldham Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: St. Aloysius School (unavailable), Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center (unavailable), Cadence Academy Preschool – Crestwood (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Crestwood (A+), Pewee Valley (A), Orchard Grass Hills (A)