Are you thinking about living in Kentucky?

Youve come to the right place.

Im not one for small talk, so lets get to the good stuff!

living in kentucky, moving to kentucky

Living in Kentucky

These are the best cities in Kentucky for those that love city(ish) living.

Outside of the Golden Triangle the state is pretty rural.

Hell, homes are 50% cheaper!

living in kentucky, moving to kentucky

Moving to Kentucky

Average rent for a one bedroom in about $1,200 in Louisville and Lexington.

As you’re free to imagine, rent is cheaper outside of the cities.

Going hand-in-hand with affordable home prices, the low property taxes are also worth mention.

living in kentucky, moving to kentucky

Moving to Kentucky | (Shutterstock/Alexey Stiop)

Apart from housing, everyday amenities are well below the national average.

Think groceries, utilities, transportation, medical expenses and necessities like haircuts.

All told, the cost of living in Kentucky is nearly12% lowerthan the national average.

Pros and cons of living in Kentucky

This is a pretty unique setup considering most states have varying income taxes depending on income bracket.

Its closely aligned with traditional southern cuisine think fried chicken, soft cornbread and beans.

Those that love eating their greens will find little respite while living in Kentucky.

Pros and cons of moving to Kentucky

Fast food reigns supreme and eating out is quite common.

At the very least, its delicious and easy to get.

Kentucky Bourbon, Baby!

Pros and cons of living in Kentucky

Plan to host a lot of visitors after moving to Kentucky.

TheKentucky Bourbon Trailis a popular attraction.

Turns out Kentucky has plenty to offer (those mountains!).

I love exploring Mammoth Cave (thelongest cave in the world!)

or hanging out on the lakes during the hot summer months.

Some of my favorite lakes are Kentucky Lake, Land Between the Lakes and Lake Barkley.

Youll see what all the fuss is about in no time.

Speaking of lakes, theres no shortage of great summer sports to partake in while living in Kentucky.

Boating, water skiing, swimming, etc.

Youre bound to find something to love.

Access to water is a huge perk of living in Kentucky and locals know to take advantage.

The reason is simple, the undeniable scenic beauty makes living in Kentucky a joy.

The area is full of breathtaking forests, lakes and never-ending fields of blooms.

Eastern Kentucky, located at the feet of the epic Appalachian Mountain range, is alsoverybeautiful.

Its all about vibrant hills and valleys on this end, which makes the hiking opportunities endless.

Ive made a habit of spending summers camping on the eastern end of the state because its so beautiful.

The central part of the state is a tad flat for my liking (I love varied landscapes).

This is an annual horse racing event held during the month of May in Churchill Downs.

Heresinformation on Kentucky Derby ticketsfor anyone interested in attending.

All this to say, the massive tax breaks makeretiring in Kentuckya smart move.

Cons of Living in Kentucky

1.

Racism Is Prevalent

Hands down, my least favorite thing about living in Kentucky is the blatant racism.

Ive lost count of the number of times I heard people make (and laugh) at racist jokes.

Or the number of times Ive seen the Confederate flag flying in the breeze from a neighbors porch.

Its part of our history, part of our culture.

Frankly, it grates my nerves, know what else is part of our history?

But we broke free from those chains, why keep the racist past?!

Im serious, the racism is the biggest reason Im considering moving from Kentucky.

Its unacceptable and downright disgusting.

And for readers preparing to comment then why dont you move?

I ask only one question why is that the default response?

So, what does this mean for daily life in Kentucky?

The second being folks that glorify the good old days.

In fact,Kentucky is ranked as having theworst job marketin the country.

If youre looking to start an active lifestyle after moving to Kentucky youll be going against the grain.

Now on to the big question, why?

Well, Id be lying if I said I had the answer.

Honestly speaking, I dont really know why the depression rates are so high in our state.

Kentucky is no stranger to tornadoes and flooding.

In 2020, the state saw 26 tornadoes (and 63 in 2021!

).This handy chart outlinesthe tornadoes weve hadsince 1950.

The most common season for tornadoes is spring through fall.

Shocking, I know.

Our public schoolsrank way too lowfor comfort (based on standardized testing).

In fact,18.5%of Kentucky residents live below the poverty line.

Practically everyone you meet with either be Christian, Methodist or Baptist.

Just something to be mindful of.

Retiring in Kentucky FAQ

Is Kentucky A Good Place to Live?

This is a hard question to answer because its personal.

Its affordable, the people are kind and the scenic beauty is top notch.

If youre into city living, youll find living in Kentucky challenging.

The largest cities arent nearly as lively as their west and east coast counterparts, so they lack excitement.

I hope you enjoyed this list of the pros and cons of living in Kentucky.

Dont forget to leave your two cents below, we love to hear from you!