$ PlainPropertyTax

Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024

Kentucky Property Taxes

The average Kentucky homeowner pays $1,544 a year at an effective rate of 0.75%, 23% below the U.S. average. Compare 120 counties below.

$1,544
Avg median tax
0.75%
Effective rate
#29 of 51
U.S. rank (burden)
120
Counties

The verdict

The average Kentucky homeowner pays $1,544 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.75%, the #29 highest burden of 51 U.S. states.

$1,544
Average median tax, 2024
0.75%
Statewide effective rate
#29 of 51
U.S. states by tax burden
120
counties measured

Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($205,600). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.

The average median property tax in Kentucky is $1,544/year, which is 23% below the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.75% on a median home value of $205,600. Taxes range from $414 in Wolfe County to $3,519 in Oldham County.

What This Data Tells Us About Kentucky

The statewide average property tax in Kentucky is $1,544 per year, 23% below the national average of $1,993, based on Census ACS state-level estimates. The statewide effective rate of 0.75% on a median home value of $205,600 reflects how Kentucky's assessment rules and local millage combine at the household level; the 120 counties below show how that varies locally.

Within Kentucky, median annual tax ranges from $414 in Wolfe County (effective rate 0.55%) to $3,519 in Oldham County (effective rate 0.90%). Median home values in Kentucky ($205,600) compared with $227,791 nationally help explain why the same effective rate produces different dollar bills in different states. Within-state variation often tracks local school levies, county bonds, and municipal overlays rather than a single statewide rate.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau, individual bills can differ based on assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Always confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making decisions that rely on these numbers.

State Average vs National Average

Median Annual Tax
$1,544
-23% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$205,600
-10% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.75%
-18% vs US avg

How Kentucky compares

Average effective property tax rate vs the national average, ACS 2024.

Kentucky 0.75%
U.S. average 0.92%

Kentucky has a higher effective property tax rate than 44% of U.S. states, ranking #29 of 51 for property tax burden.

Tax Affordability Score

8.1
Very Affordable

Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.75% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Kentucky has below-average property tax rates, making it a more affordable state for homeowners.

Very Expensive Very Affordable

How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this state's average effective rate to the national average effective rate (0.92%) - a ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, a ratio at or above 2.0× scores 1, with a linear scale between. It is a factual comparison of Census figures only, not a recommendation, quality rating, or endorsement of Kentucky or any other state.

All Counties in Kentucky (120)

County (by tax bill) Median taxEff. rateHome value
Oldham County $3,519 0.90% $393,100
Campbell County $2,556 1.01% $252,000
Fayette County $2,542 0.87% $293,500
Kenton County $2,395 0.98% $244,400
Boone County $2,372 0.86% $277,300
Shelby County $2,339 0.77% $304,800
Spencer County $2,188 0.66% $330,000
Jefferson County $2,136 0.86% $248,400
Woodford County $2,108 0.70% $299,700
Bullitt County $2,050 0.83% $247,200
Jessamine County $1,960 0.73% $268,100
Scott County $1,908 0.66% $288,500
Nelson County $1,891 0.79% $238,000
Boyle County $1,731 0.82% $209,900
Franklin County $1,716 0.79% $216,600
Madison County $1,698 0.73% $232,000
Anderson County $1,697 0.75% $225,100
Daviess County $1,675 0.84% $199,900
Mercer County $1,672 0.83% $202,300
Warren County $1,668 0.65% $258,000
Bourbon County $1,627 0.71% $229,300
Henry County $1,611 0.81% $197,900
Henderson County $1,548 0.90% $171,900
Hardin County $1,480 0.66% $225,800
Gallatin County $1,476 0.83% $178,200
Clark County $1,451 0.71% $205,800
Grant County $1,432 0.68% $209,500
Garrard County $1,422 0.69% $204,900
McCracken County $1,410 0.75% $188,100
Meade County $1,408 0.68% $207,900
Simpson County $1,371 0.60% $229,400
Harrison County $1,328 0.66% $202,100
Pendleton County $1,275 0.80% $159,800
Montgomery County $1,265 0.73% $172,200
Marshall County $1,252 0.72% $173,800
Owen County $1,220 0.72% $168,700
Barren County $1,212 0.68% $178,000
Taylor County $1,202 0.69% $174,200
Lyon County $1,196 0.63% $189,500
Calloway County $1,195 0.65% $183,200
Washington County $1,174 0.66% $179,200
Greenup County $1,171 0.87% $134,000
Trigg County $1,162 0.56% $207,700
Marion County $1,157 0.69% $168,100
Boyd County $1,156 0.88% $130,700
Bracken County $1,149 0.92% $125,000
Trimble County $1,139 0.66% $172,000
Christian County $1,126 0.65% $173,600
Hopkins County $1,104 0.77% $142,800
Larue County $1,104 0.60% $183,500
Carroll County $1,070 0.76% $140,900
Lincoln County $1,066 0.72% $147,300
Ballard County $1,065 0.73% $145,800
Pulaski County $1,057 0.63% $166,900
Mason County $1,055 0.65% $161,500
Allen County $1,046 0.54% $192,300
Logan County $1,010 0.61% $164,900
Webster County $993 0.88% $112,900
Adair County $971 0.64% $150,800
Graves County $970 0.66% $147,800
Hart County $965 0.66% $146,000
McLean County $954 0.64% $148,500
Carlisle County $945 0.78% $120,400
Grayson County $930 0.57% $164,600
Hancock County $930 0.66% $141,200
Russell County $929 0.57% $163,200
Union County $927 0.89% $104,500
Breckinridge County $916 0.58% $156,700
Todd County $909 0.55% $166,700
Laurel County $906 0.57% $159,500
Robertson County $893 0.54% $165,100
Monroe County $891 0.77% $115,900
Rowan County $885 0.55% $161,800
Edmonson County $881 0.55% $160,300
Powell County $875 0.62% $141,100
Fleming County $866 0.64% $134,700
Bath County $850 0.65% $129,800
Whitley County $849 0.64% $131,800
Green County $817 0.65% $125,000
Casey County $812 0.60% $136,300
Estill County $799 0.67% $119,500
Lawrence County $793 0.71% $111,700
Johnson County $792 0.66% $120,200
Muhlenberg County $790 0.62% $127,400
Morgan County $780 0.66% $118,200
Hickman County $779 0.67% $115,700
Knox County $779 0.66% $118,700
Pike County $772 0.69% $112,000
Livingston County $770 0.61% $125,600
Cumberland County $760 0.54% $141,100
Wayne County $758 0.56% $135,700
Elliott County $755 0.61% $123,500
Ohio County $753 0.62% $121,400
Floyd County $748 0.76% $98,700
Metcalfe County $743 0.67% $110,200
Harlan County $732 0.99% $73,700
Crittenden County $731 0.57% $127,300
Nicholas County $729 0.59% $123,000
Bell County $723 0.81% $89,000
Martin County $716 0.82% $86,900
Lee County $705 0.84% $83,900
Magoffin County $694 0.78% $89,000
Jackson County $687 0.62% $111,500
Carter County $649 0.49% $132,800
Letcher County $648 0.96% $67,400
Butler County $645 0.58% $111,100
Menifee County $644 0.51% $125,800
Caldwell County $643 0.54% $118,500
Perry County $643 0.70% $91,800
Clinton County $637 0.52% $122,200
Clay County $634 0.70% $90,700
Fulton County $634 0.80% $79,100
Lewis County $617 0.64% $96,000
Rockcastle County $596 0.48% $123,600
Knott County $571 0.74% $77,000
Owsley County $570 0.71% $80,100
Leslie County $563 0.82% $69,000
McCreary County $554 0.65% $85,300
Breathitt County $510 0.73% $70,300
Wolfe County $414 0.55% $75,800

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average property tax in Kentucky?
The average median property tax paid in Kentucky is $1,544 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.75%.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average?
Kentucky property taxes are 23% below the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $1,544 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
Which county in Kentucky has the lowest property taxes?
Wolfe County has the lowest median property tax in Kentucky at $414 per year with an effective rate of 0.55%. The highest is Oldham County at $3,519.
How are property taxes calculated?
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of a property by the local tax rate (mill rate). Rates vary by county, city, and school district. The effective tax rate shown here is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, which provides a standardized comparison across counties.
What is the median home value in Kentucky?
The median home value across Kentucky is $205,600, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
Can I appeal my property taxes in Kentucky?
Yes. Every Kentucky homeowner has the right to appeal their property tax assessment. The process typically starts at your county assessor's office within 30-90 days of receiving your assessment notice. You can challenge the assessed value by providing comparable sales data, evidence of property condition, or errors in the assessment. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for detailed steps.

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PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for Kentucky. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-09.