Is Kentucky a Good Place to Live? (18 Pros and Cons)

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Must Things To Know Before Moving To Kentucky

Is Kentucky a Good Place to Live? To find out, discover the 18 pros and cons of living in the Bluegrass State! Then, you can make an informed decision about whether Kentucky is your ideal place to call home.

Is Kentucky A Good Place To Live?

Yes. Kentucky is a good place to live, offering a slower way of life, affordable living options, scenic beauty, and many outdoor recreational opportunities. However, if you have liberal views and are interested in big-city living in an ethnically diverse state, moving to Kentucky may not be the best choice.

Next, let’s dive deeper into the heart of Kentucky living by considering the pros and cons.

Pros And Cons Of Living In Kentucky: Side By Side Comparison

Living in Kentucky Pros	Living in Kentucky Cons
1. Low cost of living	10. Risk of extreme weather
2. Modest property taxes	11. Low household incomes
3. Tax breaks for retirees	12. High state income taxes
4. Top-notch universities	13. Costly sales taxes
5. Tasty comfort foods	14. Sub-par K-12 education
6. Good bourbon	15. Limited diversity
7. Scenic beauty	16. Conservative viewpoints
8. Outdoor recreation	17. Lacking entertainment
9. Four-season weather	18. Environmental issues

Table 1: Pros and Cons of Living or Retiring in Kentucky

Now, it’s time to dissect each of these Kentucky living experiences. When we are done, you will know if Kentucky is your best state to live in.

Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Pros Of Living In Kentucky

1. There Is A Low Cost Of Living In Kentucky

After moving to Kentucky, many new residents spend less money to support their lifestyle.

For example, the median home value is 40% less compared to the country as a whole (Source: Redfin). Monthly rents are 30% lower than the national average (Source: World Population Review).

The savings continue beyond housing because other expenses in Kentucky are lower, too. Groceries, utilities, and transportation run 5-10% lower than the national average (Source: BestPlaces.net).

To save more on your everyday expenses, get cash back by signing up for the Rakuten cash rebate app. We use Rakuten to save on all our online purchases.

2. Kentucky Residents Benefit From Low Property Taxes

Living in Kentucky also allows you to save money on real estate taxes.

For example, Kentucky’s average property tax rate is in the country’s lower half of all states. Combining the low tax rate with favorable real estate prices results in modest property tax bills.

3. There Are Tax Breaks For Retirees Living In Kentucky

Retirement living in Kentucky is tax-friendly.

First, the state does not tax social security income. Second, other forms of retirement income are tax-free, up to $31,110 (Source: SmartAsset).

Finally, for homeowners 65 and older, a large portion of assessed real estate value is exempt from property taxes (Source: Kentucky.gov).

Okay. Enough about money and taxes for now. Let’s move on to some different topics about life in Kentucky.

4. Living In Kentucky Means Access To Top-Notch Higher Education

Kentucky is home to several outstanding public universities. These schools are excellent options for meeting your family’s higher education needs, including:

The University of Louisville
University of Kentucky
Kentucky State University
Eastern Kentucky University

These institutions bring cultural amenities and collegiate sports unavailable elsewhere in the state. You should know the residents of Kentucky are crazy about their college basketball.

5. Kentucky Residents Love Their Comfort Foods

After moving to Kentucky, you can discover and enjoy many good local and regional foods.

First, fried chicken is a favorite. After all, Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders.

The Colonel began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant almost 100 years ago. He was based out of Corbin, Kentucky, a small town in the state’s southeastern region near Tennessee.

Hot brown sandwiches are open-faced and topped with turkey, bacon, and a delicate Mornay sauce. The sandwich was invented at The Brown Hotel in Louisville during the 1920s.

Burgoo is a hearty pork stew, often served with cornbread or corn-based muffins.

You will find unique regional takes on barbequed meats. Most noteworthy is pork shoulder topped with a spicy vinegar sauce. Also, lamb shoulder, typically with a Worcestershire-based sauce.

6. Kentucky Is Bourbon Country

Kentucky residents and visitors love their bourbon since 90% of the world’s bourbon supply is produced here. Sample, taste, and find your perfect bottle at one of the many distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

The trail runs through the northcentral part of the state, including these popular Kentucky cities and towns:

Bardstown
Danville
Lawrenceburg
Lebanon
Lexington
Louisville
Shepherdsville
Versailles

To work off all the extra calories, it’s time to get outside. This leads us to more of the best things about living in Kentucky.

7. Kentucky Has Vast, Diverse Scenic Beauty

Kentucky is a beautiful and scenic state

First, in Western Kentucky, you will find low-rolling hills and fields dotted with forests, creeks, lakes, and streams.

Second, Central Kentucky is flatter and has rich soil. The landscape is productive for farming and healthy livestock. Many farms have corn, soybeans, chicken, cows, tobacco, and horses.

Next is Eastern Kentucky, located by the scenic state of West Virginia. Here, the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range begin with steep hills and deep hollows.

Finally, the state has many parks, national forests, and recreational areas. You can also explore the world’s longest cave system.

8. There Are Amazing Outdoor Recreational Opportunities In Kentucky

Kentucky is an excellent place to live for outdoor recreation lovers.

Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, exploring caves, boating, or water skiing, there are plenty of outdoor spaces to explore. Here are some possibilities for your outdoor life in Kentucky:

Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Falls
Daniel Boone National Forest
Hidden River Cave
Kentucky Lake
Lake Cumberland
Land Between the Lakes
Mammoth Cave National Park
Otter Creek
Red River Gorge

Furthermore, many Kentucky residents love to hunt. There is a wide range of game, including river otters, squirrels, turkeys, deer, elk, bobcats, and black bears.

Finally, Kentucky is known for its beautiful horse farms and equestrian events. Most notable is the annual Kentucky Derby horse race held at Churchill Downs in Louisville during May of each year.

Two weeks before the Derby, there are festivals, celebrations, and parties to set the stage. The entire celebration is practically a religion here. And the festival is worth enjoying even if you do not care to take in the horse race.

9. Kentucky Has All Four Weather Seasons

Kentucky residents enjoy all 4 weather seasons.

First, autumn may be the best time as the summer temperatures cool and the leaves put on their annual color display.

Winters can be cold, with snow, but the state does not experience extreme winter conditions like states to the north.

Spring brings warmer temperatures, plenty of rain, and thunderstorms.

Finally, summers are hot and humid with lots of sunshine. Temperatures and humidity can stretch into the 90s.

Okay. That concludes the positive aspects of living in Kentucky. However, a discussion about Kentucky’s pros and cons is incomplete without covering some reasons not to move to Kentucky in the first place.

Let’s continue with some more essential things to know about the weather.

Cons Of Living In Kentucky

10. Risks Of Extreme Weather When Living In Kentucky

Kentucky gets severe weather. Furthermore, dangerous weather events can occur anytime during the year.

First, the state is prone to tornados. On average, Kentucky has about 20 twisters annually. They mainly occur during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Second, many areas in the state are prone to flooding. So, investigate the flood risk before committing to a new home.

Next, freezing rain and ice occur during the winter season. The wintery mix makes travel slow and dangerous.

Finally, the summer heat and humidity can be extreme. The air gets thick and sticky. You will sometimes sweat through your clothes within minutes after stepping outside.

11. Workers Living In Kentucky Earn Low Wages

Kentucky ranks in the bottom ten of all states for median household income. Thus, you won’t find many high-paying professional job opportunities, especially in the state’s rural areas.

For job seekers, higher-paying opportunities are more plentiful in Northern Kentucky’s regional triangle. Louisville, Lexington, and Covington bound the area.

Thus, be sure you have adequate employment or other income sources before moving to Kentucky.

12. Kentucky Has A High-Income Tax Rate

Kentucky runs a flat tax system. That means you are subject to the same 4% state income tax as everyone else, no matter how much money you make.

Kentucky’s neighbor, Tennessee, has no state income tax, so paying 4% seems expensive when you can live across the state border and owe nothing.

13. Prepare To Pay Costly Costly Sales Taxes After Moving To Kentucky

When Living in Kentucky, plan to pay a 6% state sales tax rate on almost everything you buy, adding to your cost of living. Fortunately, grocery items and food ingredients are exempt from sales tax.

Okay. Enough again about money. Let’s cover some additional problems with moving to Kentucky.

14. Kentucky Has A Sub-Par K-12 Educational System

Kentucky ranks in the bottom one-third of all states by U.S. News for the quality of its K-12 educational system. The study measured standardized test scores and the graduation rate from the state’s public schools.

Another study by WalletHub also ranks Kentucky poorly for educational attainment and the quality of education.

As a result, pick your school district carefully before settling down in Kentucky with school-age children. Or, plan for the cost of private school tuition.

15. There Is Little Racial And Ethnic Diversity In Kentucky

Kentucky’s population is 90% white. So, you won’t find much cross-cultural and ethnic diversity.

Furthermore, the people here tend to stick with others who are similar. And some residents contend that discrimination still exists in the state.

16. Kentucky Is A Politically And Socially Conservative State

Kentucky is part of the bible belt. So, you will find churches everywhere.

Christian religions are the norm. Thus, those with other religious beliefs may feel out of place.

Next, you will find the state politically conservative, depending on where you live. If you have liberal views, understand that they may not align with your neighbors.

17. Kentucky Has Limited Commercial Entertainment Options

Kentucky lacks the nightlife and entertainment options other states are known for.

The state does not have a pro football, baseball, basketball, or hockey team. Nor will you find a diverse restaurant scene if that interests you.

18. There Are Negative Environmental Impacts Of Living In Kentucky

Before moving to Kentucky, I have some environmental issues you should consider.

First, the air quality in Louisville is not so good. About town, you can smell the factories from other parts of the city.

Furthermore, there are several plants in Louisville’s chemical corridor. This area is known as Rubbertown and has the worst reputation for air pollution.

Next, traffic congestion isn’t a big problem. However, air pollution from car exhausts is troublesome. The pollution settles in and around urban areas, especially when the summer air is calm, thick, and humid.

Finally, tourism brings large numbers of visitors to the state. Tourists descend on some of the best recreational areas during their summer vacations.

Okay. That’s all I have for today.

We covered a lot of information about moving to Kentucky. So, allow me to close with some parting thoughts and additional resources.

Pros and Cons Of Living In Kentucky: Wrap-Up And Resources

I hope this discussion has helped you answer these important questions about the quality of life in Kentucky:

Is Kentucky a good state to live in?
Should I move to Kentucky?

Before you start packing, here are some additional resources to help you decide where to settle down in The Bluegrass State.

First, for those wanting to live in the state’s most urban areas, check out the 5 best places to live in northern Kentucky.

Next, let’s zero in on several popular Kentucky cities.

Considered a suburb of Cincinnati, moving to Covington means you are choosing a city-like atmosphere. And a cool urban vibe.

The Pros And Cons Of Living In Kentucky Explained