Best counties to raise a family in Kentucky

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Kentucky using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.

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#30. Taylor County, Kentucky

– Population: 25,948
– Median home value: $126,400 (65% own)
– Median rent: $682 (35% own)
– Median household income: $56,890
– Top public schools: Campbellsville High School (grade B+), Taylor County Elementary School (grade B minus), Taylor County High School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Kentucky Christian School (grade unavailable), Campbellsville Christian Church Center for Education (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Campbellsville (grade B)

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#29. Clark County, Kentucky

– Population: 36,716
– Median home value: $158,300 (72% own)
– Median rent: $772 (28% own)
– Median household income: $59,294
– Top public schools: Rev. Henry E. Baker Senior Intermediate School (grade B+), Strode Station Elementary School (grade B+), George Rogers Clark High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Calvary Christian School (grade unavailable), St. Agatha Academy (grade unavailable), Clark County Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Winchester (grade B minus)

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#28. Caldwell County, Kentucky

– Population: 12,641
– Median home value: $93,600 (76% own)
– Median rent: $635 (24% own)
– Median household income: $48,280
– Top public schools: Caldwell County Middle School (grade B+), Caldwell County Elementary School (grade B), Caldwell County High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Princeton (grade B), Fredonia (grade B minus)
– Top places to live: grade B

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#27. Graves County, Kentucky

– Population: 36,796
– Median home value: $115,900 (73% own)
– Median rent: $648 (27% own)
– Median household income: $48,187
– Top public schools: Graves County Central Elementary School (grade A minus), Farmington Elementary School (grade A minus), Fancy Farm Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Northside Baptist Christian School (grade B+), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Mayfield (grade B minus), Wingo (grade B), Sedalia (grade B minus)

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#26. Simpson County, Kentucky

– Population: 19,324
– Median home value: $153,200 (67% own)
– Median rent: $870 (33% own)
– Median household income: $53,420
– Top public schools: Franklin-Simpson High School (grade A minus), Simpson Elementary School (grade B), Franklin-Simpson Middle School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Franklin Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Faith Baptist Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Franklin (grade B minus)

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#25. Barren County, Kentucky

– Population: 44,277
– Median home value: $135,100 (67% own)
– Median rent: $712 (33% own)
– Median household income: $44,254
– Top public schools: Glasgow High School (grade A), Glasgow Middle School (grade A minus), Temple Hill Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Glasgow Christian Academy (grade B+), Montessori Academy of Glasgow (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Glasgow (grade B minus), Cave City (grade C), Park City (grade B minus)

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#24. Larue County, Kentucky

– Population: 14,768
– Median home value: $134,600 (77% own)
– Median rent: $719 (23% own)
– Median household income: $53,555
– Top public schools: LaRue County Middle School (grade B+), LaRue County High School (grade B), Hodgenville Elementary School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Hodgenville (grade B+), Magnolia (grade C+), Buffalo (grade C minus)
– Top places to live: grade B minus

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#23. Calloway County, Kentucky

– Population: 37,291
– Median home value: $148,100 (65% own)
– Median rent: $718 (35% own)
– Median household income: $44,534
– Top public schools: Murray Elementary School (grade A+), Murray Middle School (grade A), Murray High School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Eastwood Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Harmony Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Murray (grade B+), Hazel (grade B minus), Dexter (grade C)

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#22. Hopkins County, Kentucky

– Population: 45,432
– Median home value: $112,900 (68% own)
– Median rent: $765 (32% own)
– Median household income: $49,495
– Top public schools: Pride Elementary School (grade A minus), Earlington Elementary School (grade A minus), West Broadway Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Grace Baptist School (grade unavailable), Christ the King School (grade unavailable), CornerStone Preparatory School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Madisonville (grade B), Mortons Gap (grade B), Earlington (grade B minus)

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#21. Logan County, Kentucky

– Population: 27,319
– Median home value: $110,500 (72% own)
– Median rent: $636 (28% own)
– Median household income: $53,133
– Top public schools: Olmstead Elementary School (grade A minus), Auburn Elementary School (grade B+), Adairville Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Plainview Mennonite School (grade unavailable), New Hope School (grade unavailable), Sands Springs School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Russellville (grade B), Adairville (grade B+), Auburn (grade B+)

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#20. Meade County, Kentucky

– Population: 29,735
– Median home value: $164,100 (75% own)
– Median rent: $859 (25% own)
– Median household income: $63,944
– Top public schools: Flaherty Primary School (grade A minus), David T. Wilson Elementary School (grade B+), Brandenburg Primary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Muldraugh (grade B minus), Brandenburg (grade B), Ekron (grade B minus)
– Top places to live: grade B

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#19. Spencer County, Kentucky

– Population: 19,256
– Median home value: $243,400 (87% own)
– Median rent: $847 (13% own)
– Median household income: $92,973
– Top public schools: Spencer County Elementary School (grade B+), Spencer County Middle School (grade B), Spencer County High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Spencer Christian (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Elk Creek (grade B), Taylorsville (grade B minus)

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#18. Henderson County, Kentucky

– Population: 45,102
– Median home value: $136,100 (64% own)
– Median rent: $699 (36% own)
– Median household income: $53,635
– Top public schools: Henderson County South Middle School (grade A minus), Spottsville Elementary School (grade A minus), Niagara Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Holy Name Elementary School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Henderson (grade B minus), Spottsville (grade B), Robards (grade B minus)

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#17. Pulaski County, Kentucky

– Population: 64,717
– Median home value: $120,500 (71% own)
– Median rent: $738 (29% own)
– Median household income: $42,652
– Top public schools: Oak Hill Elementary School (grade A), Southern Elementary School (grade A), Shopville Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Somerset Christian School (grade B+), Saline Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Jordan Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Somerset (grade B minus), Burnside (grade B), Science Hill (grade B)

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#16. Shelby County, Kentucky

– Population: 47,523
– Median home value: $212,500 (71% own)
– Median rent: $867 (29% own)
– Median household income: $73,974
– Top public schools: Martha Layne Collins High School (grade B), Simpsonville Elementary School (grade B minus), Shelby County High School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade B), Corpus Christi Classical Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Shelbyville (grade B), Simpsonville (grade A minus)

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#15. Madison County, Kentucky

– Population: 92,194
– Median home value: $172,000 (61% own)
– Median rent: $761 (39% own)
– Median household income: $55,002
– Top public schools: Shannon Johnson Elementary School (grade A minus), B. Michael Caudill Middle School (grade A minus), Farristown Middle School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: St. Mark Catholic School (grade unavailable), The Growing Place (grade unavailable), Burrier Child Development Center – Eastern Kentucky University (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Berea (grade B+), Richmond (grade B)

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#14. Jessamine County, Kentucky

– Population: 53,016
– Median home value: $192,800 (68% own)
– Median rent: $848 (32% own)
– Median household income: $65,196
– Top public schools: West Jessamine High School (grade B+), Rosenwald Dunbar Elementary School (grade B+), West Jessamine Middle School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Tabernacle Christian Academy (grade B), Christian Light Academy (grade unavailable), Creative Montessori School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Wilmore (grade A), Nicholasville (grade B), High Bridge (grade unavailable)

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#13. Daviess County, Kentucky

– Population: 102,488
– Median home value: $150,600 (68% own)
– Median rent: $831 (32% own)
– Median household income: $57,660
– Top public schools: Tamarack Elementary School (grade A minus), Sutton Elementary School (grade A minus), Deer Park Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Owensboro Catholic High School (grade B), Trinity High School (grade B), St. Mary of the Woods School (grade A)
– Top places to live: Owensboro (grade B), Masonville (grade B), Whitesville (grade B)

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#12. Franklin County, Kentucky

– Population: 51,319
– Median home value: $155,000 (63% own)
– Median rent: $835 (37% own)
– Median household income: $59,498
– Top public schools: Frankfort High School (grade B+), Franklin County High School (grade B), Collins Lane Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools: The Frankfort Christian Academy (grade B+), Capital Day School (grade A+), Good Shepherd School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Frankfort (grade B+)

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#11. Hardin County, Kentucky

– Population: 110,134
– Median home value: $160,600 (61% own)
– Median rent: $854 (39% own)
– Median household income: $59,863
– Top public schools: Elizabethtown High School (grade A minus), Talton K. Stone Middle School (grade A minus), Vine Grove Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: North Hardin Christian School (grade B), St. James Catholic School (grade unavailable), Academy of Learning – Elizabethtown (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Vine Grove (grade B+), Elizabethtown (grade B+), Radcliff (grade B minus)

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#10. Scott County, Kentucky

– Population: 56,267
– Median home value: $208,800 (72% own)
– Median rent: $996 (28% own)
– Median household income: $73,113
– Top public schools: Scott County Middle School (grade B+), Northern Elementary School (grade B+), Scott County High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Providence Christian Academy (grade unavailable), St. John School (grade unavailable), Childcare Network Georgetown (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Georgetown (grade B+), Sadieville (grade B), Stamping Ground (grade B)

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#9. Warren County, Kentucky

– Population: 133,216
– Median home value: $189,800 (57% own)
– Median rent: $851 (43% own)
– Median household income: $57,625
– Top public schools: The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science (grade A+), Bowling Green High School (grade A), W.R. McNeill Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Legacy Christian Academy (grade A minus), St. Joseph Interparochial School (grade unavailable), Foundation Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Plano (grade A minus), Bowling Green (grade B+), Woodburn (grade B+)

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#8. Jefferson County, Kentucky

– Population: 780,449
– Median home value: $190,700 (62% own)
– Median rent: $954 (38% own)
– Median household income: $61,633
– Top public schools: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), Anchorage Independent Public School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)
– Top places to live: Northfield (grade A+), Beechwood Village (grade A+), Anchorage (grade A+)

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#7. Kenton County, Kentucky

– Population: 168,264
– Median home value: $176,000 (68% own)
– Median rent: $865 (32% own)
– Median household income: $68,503
– Top public schools: Beechwood High School (grade A), Beechwood Elementary School (grade A), White’s Tower Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Covington Latin School (grade A+), Villa Madonna Academy (grade A+), Notre Dame Academy (grade A)
– Top places to live: Park Hills (grade A+), Fort Mitchell (grade A), Villa Hills (grade A)

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#6. Campbell County, Kentucky

– Population: 93,023
– Median home value: $184,700 (71% own)
– Median rent: $898 (29% own)
– Median household income: $65,580
– Top public schools: Highlands High School (grade A), Woodfill Elementary School (grade A), Moyer Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Bishop Brossart High School (grade A), Newport Central Catholic High School (grade B), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Fort Thomas (grade A+), Wilder (grade A+), Bellevue (grade A)

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#5. McCracken County, Kentucky

– Population: 67,394
– Median home value: $151,500 (65% own)
– Median rent: $777 (35% own)
– Median household income: $53,366
– Top public schools: Concord Elementary School (grade A), Heath Elementary School (grade A), Reidland Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Community Christian Academy (grade B+), St. Mary School System (grade B+)
– Top places to live: Massac (grade A), Reidland (grade B+), Hendron (grade B+)

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#4. Woodford County, Kentucky

– Population: 26,758
– Median home value: $225,600 (70% own)
– Median rent: $823 (30% own)
– Median household income: $72,765
– Top public schools: Woodford County Middle School (grade A), Northside Elementary School (grade A minus), Woodford County High School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: St. Leo School (grade unavailable), Woodford Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Versailles (grade A minus), Midway (grade A)

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#3. Boyle County, Kentucky

– Population: 30,469
– Median home value: $154,900 (69% own)
– Median rent: $734 (31% own)
– Median household income: $54,234
– Top public schools: Boyle County Middle School (grade A), Junction City Elementary School (grade A), Woodlawn Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Danville Christian Academy (grade B+), Danville Montessori School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Danville (grade B+), Junction City (grade B), Perryville (grade A)

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#2. Boone County, Kentucky

– Population: 134,599
– Median home value: $205,100 (77% own)
– Median rent: $1,058 (23% own)
– Median household income: $87,034
– Top public schools: Erpenbeck Elementary School (grade A), Larry A. Ryle High School (grade A), Randall K. Cooper High School (grade A)
– Top private schools: St. Henry District High School (grade A minus), Heritage Academy (grade B), Immaculate Heart of Mary School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Union (grade A), Francisville (grade A), Burlington (grade A minus)

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#1. Oldham County, Kentucky

– Population: 67,586
– Median home value: $314,300 (87% own)
– Median rent: $1,032 (13% own)
– Median household income: $109,815
– Top public schools: North Oldham High School (grade A), North Oldham Middle School (grade A), East Oldham Middle School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+), St. Aloysius School (grade unavailable), Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Goshen (grade A), Crestwood (grade A), Pewee Valley (grade A)