79 have matched ACS place data.
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State index
Kentucky state guide
Compare large Kentucky cities by 2025 Census population, young-grad fit, BLS state unemployment, schooling access, cost pressure, commute, and safety-check notes. The current Kentucky subset includes 79 South city pages with a combined 2025 population estimate of 2,186,223.
What the current Kentucky catalog shows
Richmond, Kentucky has the strongest verified population-growth signal in this Kentucky subset at +15.64% since the 2020 estimates base. Edgewood, Kentucky has the lowest ACS rent-to-income baseline among the matched catalog cities at 10.8%. These figures describe the WhereToLive.us city subset, not a statewide average.
Median of matched city ACS gross-rent estimates; not a statewide rent.
Median of matched city ACS household-income estimates; not a statewide income.
Median of matched city ACS owner-occupied home values.
Elizabethtown, Kentucky leads this subset at 79/100.
Median of matched city approximate ACS commute estimates.
| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, Kentucky | #27 | 68/100 | $1,120 | $66,849 | 641,962 | 5.5% | +1.59% | cautious | rent watch |
| Lexington, Kentucky | #59 | 67/100 | $1,164 | $69,479 | 329,751 | 4.9% | +2.23% | competitive | rent watch |
| Bowling Green, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 71/100 | $998 | $48,873 | 78,505 | 4.9% | +8.57% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Owensboro, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 63/100 | $905 | $56,357 | 60,892 | 5.3% | +1.09% | competitive | rent watch |
| Covington, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 66/100 | $1,006 | $61,166 | 41,847 | 5.7% | +2.19% | competitive | rent watch |
| Georgetown, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 74/100 | $1,255 | $80,088 | 40,883 | 4.2% | +8.86% | competitive | rent watch |
| Richmond, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 75/100 | $917 | $50,870 | 40,663 | 6.7% | +15.64% | competitive | rent watch |
| Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 79/100 | $909 | $60,760 | 35,448 | 5.2% | +12.93% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Florence, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 65/100 | $1,329 | $71,003 | 34,018 | 3.1% | +6.37% | competitive | rent watch |
| Nicholasville, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 71/100 | $1,147 | $68,503 | 33,857 | 3.6% | +8.79% | competitive | rent watch |
| Hopkinsville, Kentucky | 2025 population #1350 | 58/100 | $902 | $49,139 | 30,411 | 6.2% | -2.43% | competitive | rent watch |
| Independence, Kentucky | 2025 population #1359 | 71/100 | $1,250 | $102,361 | 30,198 | 4.3% | +5.25% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Jeffersontown, Kentucky | 2025 population #1388 | 65/100 | $1,320 | $81,506 | 29,193 | 2.8% | -0.30% | competitive | rent watch |
| Frankfort, Kentucky | 2025 population #1409 | 65/100 | $944 | $53,073 | 28,657 | 7.8% | +0.17% | competitive | rent watch |
| Henderson, Kentucky | 2025 population #1450 | 60/100 | $771 | $48,186 | 27,822 | 2.4% | -1.32% | competitive | rent watch |
| Paducah, Kentucky | 2025 population #1504 | 63/100 | $834 | $49,915 | 26,730 | 4.0% | -1.46% | competitive | rent watch |
| Radcliff, Kentucky | 2025 population #1756 | 58/100 | $971 | $58,559 | 22,576 | 9.3% | -1.94% | competitive | rent watch |
| Ashland, Kentucky | 2025 population #1862 | 58/100 | $872 | $52,715 | 20,996 | 7.7% | -2.92% | competitive | rent watch |
| Erlanger, Kentucky | 2025 population #1933 | 69/100 | $970 | $75,840 | 20,158 | 4.3% | +2.59% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Winchester, Kentucky | 2025 population #1986 | 63/100 | $916 | $54,378 | 19,514 | 3.6% | +1.92% | competitive | rent watch |
| Madisonville, Kentucky | 2025 population #1995 | 60/100 | $838 | $53,860 | 19,428 | 6.9% | -1.14% | competitive | rent watch |
| Mount Washington, Kentucky | 2025 population #2027 | 68/100 | $1,008 | $96,239 | 18,989 | 4.6% | +5.00% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Murray, Kentucky | 2025 population #2031 | 69/100 | $870 | $44,091 | 18,964 | 5.8% | +6.87% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Shelbyville, Kentucky | 2025 population #2076 | 70/100 | $1,033 | $75,610 | 18,453 | 3.5% | +6.63% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| St. Matthews, Kentucky | 2025 population #2125 | 70/100 | $1,369 | $82,412 | 17,868 | 3.8% | +1.75% | competitive | rent watch |
| Danville, Kentucky | 2025 population #2134 | 67/100 | $762 | $52,646 | 17,736 | 6.6% | +2.87% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Fort Thomas, Kentucky | 2025 population #2199 | 68/100 | $1,126 | $104,350 | 17,142 | 3.5% | -1.65% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Berea, Kentucky | 2025 population #2244 | 71/100 | $835 | $59,495 | 16,662 | 4.2% | +7.28% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Shively, Kentucky | 2025 population #2320 | 62/100 | $899 | $50,221 | 15,895 | 6.9% | +1.63% | competitive | rent watch |
| Glasgow, Kentucky | 2025 population #2381 | 61/100 | $849 | $43,074 | 15,302 | 4.3% | +1.79% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Shepherdsville, Kentucky | 2025 population #2413 | 69/100 | $943 | $71,476 | 14,931 | 4.2% | +5.20% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Bardstown, Kentucky | 2025 population #2507 | 63/100 | $977 | $51,381 | 14,161 | 4.0% | +4.42% | competitive | rent watch |
| Newport, Kentucky | 2025 population #2530 | 63/100 | $1,087 | $60,853 | 13,998 | 7.2% | -1.12% | competitive | rent watch |
| Somerset, Kentucky | 2025 population #2722 | 64/100 | $775 | $34,704 | 12,695 | 8.7% | +6.15% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Lawrenceburg, Kentucky | 2025 population #2777 | 68/100 | $954 | $66,486 | 12,329 | 1.8% | +5.11% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Campbellsville, Kentucky | 2025 population #2870 | 67/100 | $685 | $49,644 | 11,783 | 7.4% | +2.87% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Lyndon, Kentucky | 2025 population #2945 | 65/100 | $1,246 | $65,679 | 11,301 | 4.6% | +2.20% | competitive | rent watch |
| Alexandria, Kentucky | 2025 population #3006 | 72/100 | $1,195 | $102,239 | 10,994 | 3.2% | +6.21% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Franklin, Kentucky | 2025 population #3052 | 68/100 | $1,010 | $59,052 | 10,759 | 6.2% | +5.51% | competitive | rent watch |
| Versailles, Kentucky | 2025 population #3058 | 64/100 | $1,160 | $62,368 | 10,734 | 3.0% | +3.72% | competitive | rent watch |
| La Grange, Kentucky | 2025 population #3071 | 75/100 | $1,143 | $88,464 | 10,669 | 4.2% | +5.94% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Paris, Kentucky | 2025 population #3188 | 62/100 | $832 | $55,839 | 10,130 | 3.6% | -0.45% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Middletown, Kentucky | 2025 population #3236 | 71/100 | $1,502 | $82,537 | 9,944 | 4.7% | +2.37% | competitive | rent watch |
| Mayfield, Kentucky | 2025 population #3256 | 60/100 | $644 | $40,965 | 9,851 | 3.4% | -1.65% | competitive | rent watch |
| Harrodsburg, Kentucky | 2025 population #3304 | 66/100 | $790 | $48,381 | 9,576 | 6.1% | +4.44% | competitive | rent watch |
| Elsmere, Kentucky | 2025 population #3315 | 63/100 | $1,351 | $60,503 | 9,521 | 5.1% | +3.98% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Hillview, Kentucky | 2025 population #3460 | 63/100 | $1,316 | $68,111 | 9,020 | 3.8% | +4.47% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Middlesborough, Kentucky | 2025 population #3526 | 51/100 | $598 | $31,106 | 8,776 | 8.5% | -6.52% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Fort Mitchell, Kentucky | 2025 population #3535 | 68/100 | $1,039 | $86,310 | 8,751 | 2.4% | +0.63% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Maysville, Kentucky | 2025 population #3547 | 59/100 | $699 | $39,013 | 8,688 | 4.4% | -1.76% | competitive | rent watch |
| Edgewood, Kentucky | 2025 population #3594 | 71/100 | $1,073 | $119,028 | 8,503 | 2.4% | +0.78% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Union, Kentucky | 2025 population #3760 | 77/100 | $1,657 | $136,712 | 7,937 | 1.5% | +6.91% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Corbin, Kentucky | 2025 population #3769 | 64/100 | $733 | $51,065 | 7,911 | 7.2% | +0.93% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Oak Grove, Kentucky | 2025 population #3796 | 52/100 | $1,197 | $49,354 | 7,830 | 9.5% | -1.31% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Villa Hills, Kentucky | 2025 population #3807 | 78/100 | $1,412 | $107,859 | 7,797 | 3.6% | +6.75% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| London, Kentucky | 2025 population #3855 | 62/100 | $815 | $47,591 | 7,637 | 3.5% | +1.23% | competitive | rent watch |
| Mount Sterling, Kentucky | 2025 population #3875 | 63/100 | $699 | $55,827 | 7,586 | 3.7% | +0.68% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Russellville, Kentucky | 2025 population #3913 | 65/100 | $738 | $45,484 | 7,454 | 6.4% | +3.98% | competitive | rent watch |
| Flatwoods, Kentucky | 2025 population #3917 | 60/100 | $940 | $59,972 | 7,439 | 6.4% | -0.92% | competitive | rent watch |
| Pikeville, Kentucky | 2025 population #3982 | 55/100 | $862 | $39,955 | 7,270 | 3.2% | -6.29% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Taylor Mill, Kentucky | 2025 population #4023 | 72/100 | $1,139 | $88,546 | 7,144 | 2.1% | +3.88% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Vine Grove, Kentucky | 2025 population #4066 | 66/100 | $1,334 | $72,560 | 7,018 | 3.5% | +6.79% | competitive | rent watch |
| Leitchfield, Kentucky | 2025 population #4067 | 68/100 | $621 | $44,347 | 7,015 | 10.2% | +3.51% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Morehead, Kentucky | 2025 population #4146 | 55/100 | $800 | $36,741 | 6,776 | 5.4% | -5.06% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Lebanon, Kentucky | 2025 population #4170 | 70/100 | $701 | $45,479 | 6,699 | 3.7% | +6.55% | competitive | rent watch |
| Cold Spring, Kentucky | 2025 population #4188 | 73/100 | $1,191 | $75,000 | 6,640 | 2.0% | +6.29% | competitive | rent watch |
| Crestwood, Kentucky | 2025 population #4211 | 75/100 | $1,188 | $108,046 | 6,582 | 2.7% | +5.73% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Cynthiana, Kentucky | 2025 population #4212 | 67/100 | $770 | $54,647 | 6,576 | 1.3% | +3.80% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Wilmore, Kentucky | 2025 population #4289 | 76/100 | $975 | $77,665 | 6,380 | 2.5% | +6.14% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Highland Heights, Kentucky | 2025 population #4301 | 57/100 | $1,144 | $53,275 | 6,341 | 3.0% | -4.63% | competitive | rent stretched |
| Fort Wright, Kentucky | 2025 population #4332 | 78/100 | $1,142 | $105,024 | 6,240 | 3.4% | +7.59% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Princeton, Kentucky | 2025 population #4357 | 59/100 | $762 | $47,411 | 6,168 | 4.5% | -1.66% | competitive | rent watch |
| Dayton, Kentucky | 2025 population #4431 | 67/100 | $1,137 | $65,992 | 5,974 | 5.0% | +5.49% | competitive | rent watch |
| Walton, Kentucky | 2025 population #4480 | 71/100 | $1,306 | $77,917 | 5,868 | 3.2% | +6.96% | competitive | rent watch |
| Bellevue, Kentucky | 2025 population #4487 | 73/100 | $1,265 | $71,166 | 5,847 | 2.2% | +5.54% | competitive | rent watch |
| Central City, Kentucky | 2025 population #4517 | 62/100 | $683 | $50,885 | 5,793 | 9.4% | -0.55% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Monticello, Kentucky | 2025 population #4544 | 60/100 | $779 | $44,952 | 5,721 | 2.0% | -0.76% | competitive | rent watch |
| Douglass Hills, Kentucky | 2025 population #4610 | 70/100 | $1,353 | $78,482 | 5,575 | 8.3% | +2.14% | competitive | rent watch |
| Williamsburg, Kentucky | 2025 population #4706 | 60/100 | $793 | $38,147 | 5,371 | 3.9% | +0.90% | competitive | rent stretched |