19 Best Places to Live in Kentucky in 2024

With a reputation for bluegrass, bourbon, and horse racing, the best places to live in Kentucky boast tranquil landscapes and city life with a small-town feel. The cost of living in Kentucky is also affordable, allowing for room in your budget for the lifestyle you’re looking for. You can get as rural as you like for a quiet way of life or land in some of the trendiest neighborhoods in Louisville or Lexington. It’s also possible to make yourself at home across from a bigger metropolis like Cincinnati, Ohio, while still living affordably in Kentucky.

Don’t worry — we did all the research for you. Here are our top 19 picks for the best cities and towns in Kentucky so you can make the most of your move.

The 19 Best Places to Live in Kentucky

1. Fort Thomas

• Population: 17,133
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,185
• Median household income: $85,938
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Fort Thomas is known as the city of beautiful homes, and more than 160 Fort Thomas residents are at least 100 years old. Coincidence? Locals are only 10 minutes from central Cincinnati, making it possible to live in one state and work in the other. As one of the best places to live in Kentucky, Fort Thomas offers a suburban feel within a short drive of urban amenities.

Despite its rich military history, Fort Thomas is also a great place for newcomers and is among the safest cities in Kentucky. From Tower Park, there are plenty of boutiques, restaurants, and craft breweries, along with stunning views of the Ohio River. With Fort Thomas’ position on a ridge that overlooks the river and downtown, renters can find a spot with sparkling views.

2. Frankfort

• Population: 28,391
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $700
• Median household income: $51,731
• Walk score: 29
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: 25

Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky, known for its rich history and thriving arts and culture scene at an affordable cost. If you enjoy distilleries, Frankfort is home to three that attract locals and tourists alike. Beyond the drinking and dining scene, there are also activities along the Kentucky River, where residents boat, fish, and go tubing.

If you're moving to Frankfort, you have your choice of job opportunities clustered in the distilleries, manufacturers, and the automotive industry. Despite the jobs and things to do for renters around Frankfort, it still offers a suburban feel. You can live, work, and play in Kentucky with more space in a suburban apartment than in areas like Lexington.

3. Lexington

• Population: 320,347
• Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,235
• Median household income: $61,526
• Walk score: 34
• Transit score: 27
• Bike score: 46

Known locally as the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington is one of the biggest cities in Kentucky and is known for its thoroughbred breeding farms, Kentucky Horse Park, and historic Keeneland Race Course. Equestrian and derby lovers are well situated for year-round events. Beyond horses, Lexington is also home to fantastic music and entertainment venues, and its proximity to bourbon distillers offers a quintessential Kentucky experience.

Despite its modern amenities and culture, Lexington still has a smaller-town, Southern feel. You can also drive just a few minutes out of town to hit more rural areas with rolling landscapes.

4. Edgewood

• Population: 8,398
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,070
• Median household income: $109,909
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Situated 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, by car, Edgewood is an upscale suburb with both luxury and affordable housing options close to the beauty of the Ohio River. Edgewood also ranks as one of the safest cities in Kentucky.

Although Edgewood isn’t far from the city’s abundant job opportunities, you also don’t have to leave town for work. Edgewood’s major employers include the St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Kentucky, and opportunities abound in the automotive and manufacturing industries.

5. Berea

• Population: 15,494
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $900
• Median household income: $49,974
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Berea is known for its pristine scenery and hiking along the Berea Forest Trail and the Indian Fort Mountain Hiking Trail. Students attend Berea College, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. Residents make the most of the local arts scene and annual festivals. But more than just a place to buy art, Berea is a renowned Appalachian artisan community and is often called the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky.

As a historic town, Berea is a charming and tranquil place to live where locals emphasize community and the arts. It’s still affordable, with rents dipping under $1,000. You won't find scores of nightlife and dining options around Berea, but for big-city amenities, Lexington is less than an hour away.

6. Louisville

• Population: 624,444
• Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,091
• Median household income: $58,357
• Walk score: 34
• Transit score: 27
• Bike score: 43

Louisville is among the best places to live in Kentucky with a moderate cost of living and historic charm. It's one of the largest cities in Kentucky and is known for its premier food scene and local bourbon. You'll find a diverse range of neighborhoods, schools, and jobs to choose from in the manufacturing, business services, dining, health and aging, and logistics industries.

If you're looking for a trendy neighborhood, downtown Louisville attracts young professionals with an active lifestyle who want to see the best of what the city has to offer. Louisville is also family-friendly, with outdoor recreation and room to roam at the Scenic Loop in Cherokee Park and the Waterfront Botanical Gardens.

What Renters Say About Louisville, KY

Apartment List has released the results for Louisville from our Renter Satisfaction Survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide to provide insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.

62% of renters say Louisville is great for Parks and Outdoor Activities, while 57% love the pet friendliness of the city. Only 25% were satisfied with state and local taxes, and the same number with crime rates.

7. Bellevue

• Population: 5,630
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,250
• Median household income: $69,135
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Bellevue, one of Kentucky's beloved suburban neighborhoods, sits along the Ohio River. It boasts a tight-knit community with a thriving shopping district, restaurants, cafes, and parks. Although central Cincinnati is less than 10 minutes away, you don't have to leave Bellevue to enjoy concerts and festivals.

Bellevue gives renters the best of both worlds: modern amenities and ample things to do and a small-town feel. With just a few thousand residents, Bellevue feels more like a charming neighborhood than its own little city.

8. Elizabethtown

• Population: 31,892
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,305
• Median household income: $51,875
• Walk score: 27
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: 28

Elizabethtown is known for its affordable cost of living, family-friendly vibe, and award-winning schools. You can find a safe neighborhood with tons of space or live closer to amenities. Although Elizabethtown isn’t known for thriving nightlife, it has a mall, thrift stores, restaurants, a theater, and lakes to explore.

Depending on what you're looking for, you can live near Elizabethtown’s city side with a shopping mall or the rural side, where you'll still find quaint farms. For city amenities, locals can make the 45-mile commute to Louisville.

9. Georgetown

• Population: 38,780
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,415
• Median household income: $66,942
• Walk score: 23
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: 28

Georgetown, Kentucky, celebrated for being the birthplace of bourbon, is a popular spot for anyone visiting nearby Lexington. Georgetown hosts antique shopping with historic homes and buildings — over 200 of its structures are on the National Register of Historic Places, including area boutiques.

Despite all the history and bourbon, Georgetown is also a college town where students attend Georgetown College. You're never far from a glass of bourbon, Southern fare, or a horse race when you live in Georgetown.

10. Richmond

• Population: 36,129
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $800
• Median household income: $40,221
• Walk score: 35
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: 32

Just 28 miles from central Lexington, Richmond offers a suburban escape from city life. It's affordable and family-friendly, with a focus on supporting local businesses. Despite its quiet vibe, Richmond offers downtown shopping, a farmers market, and recreational activities.

If you’re a college student, you’ll feel right at home in Richmond. Students attend Eastern Kentucky University while enjoying a low cost of living.

11. Owensboro

• Population: 60,037
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $795
• Median household income: $47,411
• Walk score: 36
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: 47

Owensboro is one of the big cities in Kentucky with a walkable downtown with shopping and dining. Like most of Kentucky, Owensboro is affordable and embraces history and the arts. The area is the Bluegrass Capital of the World and houses the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which holds artifacts and memorabilia.

Owensboro sits along the Ohio River, offering scenic views from your patio or porch. The area boasts unique attractions with a remodeled theater and outdoor museum featuring international art to attract visitors and locals looking to make the most of this riverfront town.

12. Henderson

• Population: 27,697
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $995
• Median household income: $43,413
• Walk score: 32
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: 37

Henderson is a small town along the Ohio River with hiking and biking trails. Visitors come to camp on its campgrounds or take in a race at Ellis Park Racing and Gaming. The town also boasts a winery, museum, and historic train depot.

There's not much nightlife in Henderson, but you can find bars, grills, and watering holes. Like much of Kentucky, Henderson also supports local arts, with performances at the 100-acre Preston Arts Center at Henderson Community College.

13. Anchorage

• Population: 2,607
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,175
• Median household income: $199,261
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

The small suburb of Anchorage is 25 minutes from Louisville, just inland from the Ohio River. With a reasonable cost of living and a location at the Indiana state border, locals have their choice of which state to work in and explore.

Rentals aren't as plentiful as in nearby Louisville, but apartment hunters can find options in private buildings and historic buildings with manicured lawns and gardens. Head into the city for nightlife, but stay in Anchorage for hiking, kayaking, and fishing opportunities.

14. Indian Hills

• Population: 2,878
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $979
• Median household income: $163,750
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Indian Hills is a tranquil community just seven miles from downtown Louisville. Rentals, located near forests and riverside trails, make for a peaceful atmosphere. Indian Hills also has high safety ratings, with a strong economy and recreation at the nearby Louisville Country Club and Louisville Champions Park.

Indian Hills also holds the distinction of being one of Louisville's most prosperous suburbs. You'll find restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs, but you'll need to head into the city for nightlife and music venues.

15. Union

• Population: 7,592
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,845
• Median household income: $128,050
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Located just 25 minutes from Cincinnati, Ohio, Union is a top choice for families in Kentucky. With highly-rated schools and a family-friendly atmosphere, Union combines educational excellence with a welcoming community. In terms of affordability, the city offers a low cost of living along with a variety of rental options set amid its beautiful rolling hills.

For those who love the great outdoors, Union is conveniently located near the Ohio River, offering opportunities for water activities like fishing and boating. Additionally, the nearby Boone County Arboretum provides trails for hiking, making it easy to enjoy the beauty of changing leaves in the fall as well as scenic drives.

16. Crestwood

• Population: 6,350
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,099
• Median household income: $98,797
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Crestwood may be a small town, but it still boasts a vibrant downtown with boutiques, dining, and entertainment. It’s a popular choice for families looking for a safe, quiet, and tight-knit community with good schools.

The Crestwood area is quiet and tranquil, and locals work in retail or in nearby Kentucky towns to expand their job prospects. Louisville is also 19 miles away, offering more career opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, tourism, and the food and beverage industries.

17. Deer Park

• Population: 4,174
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,595
• Median household income: $93,354
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Deer Park is a neighborhood in Louisville with restaurants, parks, and amenities at an affordable price point. The area is known for its great schools and attracts families looking for a quieter way of life within five miles of downtown Louisville.

Despite its small size and population, there's still plenty to do within minutes of Deer Park. Students live within walking distance of Bellarmine University, and locals can pass the time by visiting the Louisville Zoo, distilleries, or the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and the Kentucky Derby Museum. Local talent also performs at the Caravan Comedy Club.

18. Crescent Hill

• Population: 5,212
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $900
• Median household income: $77,200
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Crescent Hill is near some of the best attractions in Kentucky, including the iconic Churchill Downs track that hosts the Kentucky Derby. You're also not far from the Louisville Zoo and Waterfront Botanical Gardens.

Crescent Hill isn’t the cheapest place to live around Louisville, but you can sometimes find rent below $1,000. Even so, it’s an ideal spot if you want to live in the middle of the action. Teaming up with a roommate to have a nightlife buddy can also lower your rent and utilities while exploring the best of Louisville together.

19. Belknap

• Population: 5,155
• Starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,500
• Median household income: $97,720
• Walk score: N/A
• Transit score: N/A
• Bike score: N/A

Belknap is home to Bellarmine University and is known for its proximity to downtown Louisville. Even so, scenic attractions like the Louisville Nature Center and the St. Francis Peace Garden are also close by. Belknap is one of the most desirable suburbs, and residents are sure to enjoy it — there are always cyclists, dog walkers, and runners around the picturesque Trevilian Way.

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Living in Kentucky comes with plenty of options to fit your preferences for outdoor fun, culture, the arts, city living, or solitude and tranquility. Wherever you move, you should be able to find an affordable option that works for your budget.

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