Property Tax in Kentucky by County
According to the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023, the median real estate tax bill in Kentucky is $1,472 a year, on a median home value of $192,300. Figures for every Kentucky county with published data — 120 in total — are in the table below. That state median is about 50% lower than the US median of $2,969.
The extremes inside Kentucky are far apart: Oldham County, KY records the state's highest median bill at $3,454, while Wolfe County, KY records the lowest at $391. Home values explain much of that distance, with local district rates explaining the rest.
Looking across the state, 1 of 120 counties with published data have a median tax bill above the US median of $2,969. The middle county figure in Kentucky — the median of the county medians — is $935, and county medians range from $391 in Wolfe County to $3,454 in Oldham County, a spread that shows how local the tax burden is even within one state.
Two reference points for the state's geography: Jefferson County is Kentucky's most populous county with 777,392 residents, while Pike County is the largest by land area at 786 square miles. Both appear in the table with their own median figures.
Where people live in Kentucky: Jefferson County leads with 777,392 residents (median tax $2,023, median home $237,200), followed by Fayette County (321,122; $2,425 on $272,100) and Kenton County (169,817; $2,284 on $227,500).
Kentucky counties: median property tax
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oldham County, KY | $3,454 | $375,000 | 0.92% | 68,600 |
| Campbell County, KY | $2,495 | $234,500 | 1.06% | 93,193 |
| Fayette County, KY | $2,425 | $272,100 | 0.89% | 321,122 |
| Kenton County, KY | $2,284 | $227,500 | 1.00% | 169,817 |
| Boone County, KY | $2,273 | $253,200 | 0.90% | 137,676 |
| Shelby County, KY | $2,248 | $277,500 | 0.81% | 48,599 |
| Spencer County, KY | $2,118 | $297,600 | 0.71% | 19,875 |
| Jefferson County, KY | $2,023 | $237,200 | 0.85% | 777,392 |
| Woodford County, KY | $2,003 | $270,400 | 0.74% | 27,017 |
| Bullitt County, KY | $1,994 | $233,700 | 0.85% | 83,209 |
| Jessamine County, KY | $1,889 | $245,100 | 0.77% | 53,792 |
| Scott County, KY | $1,800 | $264,200 | 0.68% | 58,269 |
| Nelson County, KY | $1,782 | $224,100 | 0.80% | 47,102 |
| Boyle County, KY | $1,712 | $200,700 | 0.85% | 30,708 |
| Anderson County, KY | $1,698 | $213,200 | 0.80% | 24,098 |
| Franklin County, KY | $1,672 | $198,700 | 0.84% | 51,563 |
| Madison County, KY | $1,631 | $220,700 | 0.74% | 94,064 |
| Daviess County, KY | $1,595 | $185,800 | 0.86% | 103,195 |
| Bourbon County, KY | $1,563 | $211,600 | 0.74% | 20,174 |
| Warren County, KY | $1,558 | $242,600 | 0.64% | 137,549 |
| Mercer County, KY | $1,553 | $189,700 | 0.82% | 22,824 |
| Henry County, KY | $1,489 | $181,300 | 0.82% | 15,774 |
| Henderson County, KY | $1,455 | $165,700 | 0.88% | 44,493 |
| Hardin County, KY | $1,451 | $205,900 | 0.70% | 111,452 |
| Clark County, KY | $1,448 | $197,900 | 0.73% | 37,004 |
| Meade County, KY | $1,386 | $195,000 | 0.71% | 30,032 |
| Gallatin County, KY | $1,368 | $169,400 | 0.81% | 8,749 |
| Garrard County, KY | $1,344 | $186,800 | 0.72% | 17,346 |
| McCracken County, KY | $1,342 | $182,900 | 0.73% | 67,584 |
| Grant County, KY | $1,339 | $185,500 | 0.72% | 25,238 |
| Harrison County, KY | $1,282 | $188,900 | 0.68% | 18,971 |
| Greenup County, KY | $1,273 | $135,300 | 0.94% | 35,639 |
| Marshall County, KY | $1,246 | $173,700 | 0.72% | 31,728 |
| Pendleton County, KY | $1,246 | $160,800 | 0.78% | 14,683 |
| Simpson County, KY | $1,246 | $195,700 | 0.64% | 19,786 |
| Boyd County, KY | $1,233 | $126,300 | 0.98% | 48,043 |
| Owen County, KY | $1,231 | $165,000 | 0.75% | 11,270 |
| Montgomery County, KY | $1,222 | $163,800 | 0.75% | 28,271 |
| Calloway County, KY | $1,215 | $181,200 | 0.67% | 37,882 |
| Barren County, KY | $1,212 | $166,900 | 0.73% | 44,670 |
| Washington County, KY | $1,205 | $168,300 | 0.72% | 12,091 |
| Trimble County, KY | $1,175 | $172,700 | 0.68% | 8,531 |
| Taylor County, KY | $1,174 | $163,700 | 0.72% | 26,205 |
| Marion County, KY | $1,124 | $158,700 | 0.71% | 19,680 |
| Larue County, KY | $1,118 | $177,500 | 0.63% | 15,028 |
| Bracken County, KY | $1,093 | $116,400 | 0.94% | 8,427 |
| Ballard County, KY | $1,067 | $132,900 | 0.80% | 7,678 |
| Christian County, KY | $1,065 | $149,200 | 0.71% | 72,599 |
| Trigg County, KY | $1,065 | $192,000 | 0.56% | 14,211 |
| Hopkins County, KY | $1,057 | $128,800 | 0.82% | 45,143 |
| Lincoln County, KY | $1,020 | $139,300 | 0.73% | 24,415 |
| Lyon County, KY | $1,016 | $183,600 | 0.55% | 8,831 |
| Pulaski County, KY | $1,010 | $156,300 | 0.65% | 65,503 |
| Mason County, KY | $998 | $157,500 | 0.63% | 16,995 |
| McLean County, KY | $984 | $145,600 | 0.68% | 9,127 |
| Carroll County, KY | $982 | $129,800 | 0.76% | 10,878 |
| Allen County, KY | $972 | $176,300 | 0.55% | 21,029 |
| Webster County, KY | $961 | $97,600 | 0.98% | 12,873 |
| Logan County, KY | $945 | $151,500 | 0.62% | 27,731 |
| Hancock County, KY | $935 | $137,600 | 0.68% | 9,032 |
| Hart County, KY | $935 | $124,600 | 0.75% | 19,470 |
| Graves County, KY | $929 | $139,000 | 0.67% | 36,612 |
| Adair County, KY | $922 | $134,800 | 0.68% | 19,016 |
| Grayson County, KY | $896 | $160,100 | 0.56% | 26,586 |
| Monroe County, KY | $892 | $116,300 | 0.77% | 11,318 |
| Carlisle County, KY | $887 | $104,700 | 0.85% | 4,763 |
| Russell County, KY | $872 | $148,200 | 0.59% | 18,117 |
| Todd County, KY | $870 | $157,400 | 0.55% | 12,330 |
| Rowan County, KY | $862 | $155,900 | 0.55% | 24,525 |
| Union County, KY | $858 | $109,000 | 0.79% | 13,379 |
| Breckinridge County, KY | $855 | $141,400 | 0.60% | 20,722 |
| Laurel County, KY | $845 | $143,400 | 0.59% | 62,731 |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | $842 | $121,300 | 0.69% | 30,712 |
| Powell County, KY | $829 | $142,400 | 0.58% | 13,057 |
| Robertson County, KY | $828 | $123,400 | 0.67% | 2,239 |
| Fleming County, KY | $824 | $115,200 | 0.71% | 15,221 |
| Bath County, KY | $817 | $111,800 | 0.73% | 12,812 |
| Casey County, KY | $810 | $135,700 | 0.60% | 15,951 |
| Johnson County, KY | $808 | $125,300 | 0.65% | 22,464 |
| Knox County, KY | $803 | $109,200 | 0.73% | 30,034 |
| Morgan County, KY | $802 | $106,000 | 0.76% | 13,938 |
| Edmonson County, KY | $795 | $136,600 | 0.58% | 12,243 |
| Whitley County, KY | $792 | $120,600 | 0.66% | 36,755 |
| Cumberland County, KY | $786 | $128,600 | 0.61% | 5,948 |
| Estill County, KY | $773 | $111,900 | 0.69% | 14,079 |
| Pike County, KY | $758 | $104,200 | 0.73% | 57,466 |
| Hickman County, KY | $756 | $92,300 | 0.82% | 4,470 |
| Green County, KY | $752 | $118,900 | 0.63% | 11,278 |
| Metcalfe County, KY | $743 | $103,100 | 0.72% | 10,372 |
| Lawrence County, KY | $733 | $108,100 | 0.68% | 16,171 |
| Livingston County, KY | $731 | $116,300 | 0.63% | 8,941 |
| Harlan County, KY | $722 | $73,100 | 0.99% | 26,185 |
| Wayne County, KY | $703 | $121,700 | 0.58% | 19,592 |
| Floyd County, KY | $697 | $93,300 | 0.75% | 35,342 |
| Lee County, KY | $696 | $82,100 | 0.85% | 7,375 |
| Ohio County, KY | $695 | $113,400 | 0.61% | 23,704 |
| Jackson County, KY | $683 | $107,000 | 0.64% | 13,003 |
| Nicholas County, KY | $679 | $119,600 | 0.57% | 7,655 |
| Elliott County, KY | $671 | $97,400 | 0.69% | 7,336 |
| Perry County, KY | $661 | $90,700 | 0.73% | 27,847 |
| Letcher County, KY | $657 | $70,500 | 0.93% | 21,146 |
| Martin County, KY | $657 | $84,900 | 0.77% | 11,181 |
| Crittenden County, KY | $650 | $115,700 | 0.56% | 8,972 |
| Magoffin County, KY | $643 | $88,300 | 0.73% | 11,495 |
| Clinton County, KY | $627 | $114,000 | 0.55% | 9,240 |
| Carter County, KY | $622 | $126,100 | 0.49% | 26,515 |
| Bell County, KY | $617 | $83,000 | 0.74% | 23,878 |
| Clay County, KY | $598 | $87,300 | 0.69% | 20,105 |
| Butler County, KY | $594 | $105,500 | 0.56% | 12,373 |
| Caldwell County, KY | $594 | $113,500 | 0.52% | 12,631 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | $574 | $119,300 | 0.48% | 16,144 |
| McCreary County, KY | $565 | $77,000 | 0.73% | 16,905 |
| Fulton County, KY | $562 | $78,100 | 0.72% | 6,440 |
| Owsley County, KY | $562 | $79,900 | 0.70% | 4,021 |
| Lewis County, KY | $558 | $86,100 | 0.65% | 13,028 |
| Menifee County, KY | $558 | $111,500 | 0.50% | 6,203 |
| Knott County, KY | $536 | $74,600 | 0.72% | 14,046 |
| Leslie County, KY | $532 | $74,100 | 0.72% | 10,261 |
| Breathitt County, KY | $521 | $61,800 | 0.84% | 13,438 |
| Wolfe County, KY | $391 | $66,400 | 0.59% | 6,484 |
*Derived rate = median taxes paid ÷ median home value — an estimate from two survey medians, not an official rate. Counties in bold detail pages are linked; all figures: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023.
How assessment and appeals work in Kentucky
Property tax in Kentucky is administered locally. As in almost every state, the process starts with an assessment: a local assessor (in most places a county official) estimates the market value of your property. That value, minus any exemptions you qualify for — homestead exemptions are the most common — is multiplied by the combined rates of the local taxing districts where the property sits: typically the county, a municipality, a school district, and sometimes special districts such as fire or water districts.
If your assessment notice shows a value that looks too high, you can usually appeal. Start by asking the assessor's office for your property record card and checking it for simple errors — wrong square footage, an extra bathroom, a missed exemption. If the value still looks wrong, gather evidence: recent sales of similar homes nearby, or an independent appraisal. Appeals go to the local review board named on your notice, and the deadline on that notice controls — appeal windows are typically short.
One caution applies everywhere in Kentucky: the median figures on this page describe the typical owner-occupied household across the whole state. Your own bill depends on your assessed value, your exemptions, and your exact combination of local districts, so use these numbers as a benchmark and confirm specifics with your county assessor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Kentucky?
The median real estate tax paid in Kentucky is $1,472 per year, on a median home value of $192,300 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
Which Kentucky county has the highest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Oldham County has the highest median real estate taxes paid at $3,454 per year.
Which Kentucky county has the lowest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Wolfe County has the lowest median real estate taxes paid at $391 per year.
How do I appeal a property tax assessment in Kentucky?
Assessments in Kentucky are handled locally, usually by the county assessor or an equivalent local office. If you believe your assessed value is too high, request your property record card, check it for errors, and file an appeal with the local board named on your assessment notice before the deadline printed on that notice — appeal windows are short, often 30 to 90 days.