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Best Cities for Rental Property in Kentucky

14 Kentucky cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Kentucky markets is 4.8%, with median home prices averaging $225K and rents averaging $1,219/mo. London leads with a 6.6% cap rate at a $155K median price. Property taxes average 0.81% across Kentucky markets.

4.8%
Avg Cap Rate
$225K
Avg Price
$1,219/mo
Avg Rent
14
Cities Tracked

Kentucky Rental Market Analysis

Kentucky offers 14 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 4.8% is above the 3.81% national average, making Kentucky an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Kentucky home prices average $225K, which is 33% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,219/mo.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.81% across Kentucky, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $603 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Bowling Green has the lowest rate at 0.8%.Vacancy averages 5.6%, in line with national norms.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Kentucky averages 0.79% per year, led by Bowling Green at 1.2%. Home values are appreciating at 2.8% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Kentucky offers moderate opportunities for rental investors. The best deals are in cities at the top of the ranking — use the calculators on each city page to model specific properties.

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How Kentucky Compares to National Averages

Metric
Kentucky
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
4.8%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$225K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,219/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.81%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.6%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.79%/yr
0.92%/yr

Kentucky Cities by Cap Rate Tier

6% – 7% (2)5% – 6% (4)4% – 5% (2)3% – 4% (5)Below 3% (1)

All 14 Kentucky Cities Ranked

1
London, KY6.6% cap rate
$155K median$1,130/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
2
Paducah, KY6.5% cap rate
$170K median$1,220/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
3
Mount Sterling, KY5.9% cap rate
$190K median$1,260/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
4
Somerset, KY5.9% cap rate
$170K median$1,120/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
5
Murray, KY5.8% cap rate
$175K median$1,140/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
6
Owensboro, KY5.7% cap rate
$205K median$1,330/mo rent0.82% tax0.4% growth
7
Danville, KY4.7% cap rate
$210K median$1,170/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
8
Elizabethtown, KY4.1% cap rate
$245K median$1,240/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
9
Louisville, KY4.0% cap rate
$275K median$1,360/mo rent0.83% tax0.6% growth
10
Bowling Green, KY3.9% cap rate
$260K median$1,250/mo rent0.8% tax1.2% growth
11
Frankfort, KY3.7% cap rate
$245K median$1,140/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
12
Lexington, KY3.7% cap rate
$320K median$1,480/mo rent0.81% tax0.9% growth
13
Bardstown, KY3.6% cap rate
$265K median$1,230/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth
14
Richmond, KY2.7% cap rate
$260K median$990/mo rent0.81% tax0.8% growth

Other South States

Mississippi (9 cities · 6.3% avg)Louisiana (13 cities · 5.9% avg)West Virginia (10 cities · 5.9% avg)Alabama (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Oklahoma (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Georgia (26 cities · 5.0% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kentucky a good state for rental property investing?
Kentucky has an average cap rate of 4.8% across 14 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is London at 6.6%. Average home prices of $225K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 0.81% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Kentucky?
London leads Kentucky with a 6.6% cap rate, $155K median price, and $1,130/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Bowling Green (1.2% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Kentucky?
Property taxes in Kentucky average 0.81%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Bowling Green at 0.8%. On an average-priced home of $225K, annual taxes are approximately $1,823.
How many Kentucky cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 14 Kentucky cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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