Overview of Kentucky Taxes
Property taxes in in Kentucky are relatively low. The typical homeowner in Kentucky pays just $1,078 annually in property tax, less than half the national average. The state’s average effective property tax rate is 0.85%.
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To calculate the exact amount of property tax you will owe requires your property's assessed value and the property tax rates based on your property's address. Please note that we can only estimate your property tax based on median property taxes in your area. There are typically multiple rates in a given area, because your state, county, local schools and emergency responders each receive funding partly through these taxes. In our calculator, we take your home value and multiply that by your county's effective property tax rate. This is equal to the median property tax paid as a percentage of the median home value in your county.
Kentucky Property Taxes
Thinking about buying a home in the Bluegrass State? Good news: property taxes in Kentucky are relatively low. In fact, the typical homeowner in Kentucky pays just $1,078 annually in property tax, less than half the national average. The state’s average effective property tax rate (annual tax payments as a percentage of home value) is also low at 0.85%.
Of course, where you choose to live in Kentucky has an impact on your taxes. Campbell County has the highest average effective rate in the state at 1.18%. Carter County has the lowest rate at a mere 0.56%. Below, we’ll look at rates across all 120 Kentucky Counties and the property tax rules every Kentucky homeowner should know.
Want to learn more about your mortgage payments? Check out our mortgage payment calculator.
Kentucky Property Tax Rules
Property taxes in Kentucky follow a one-year cycle, beginning on Jan. 1 of each year. That’s the assessment date for all property in the state, so taxes are based on the value and owner of property as of Jan. 1.
Real estate in Kentucky is typically assessed through a mass appraisal. This technique uses data on sales in the marketplace, as well as property-specific factors such as home size and date of construction, to calculate a market value for each home. Homeowners who disagree with their assessed value can file an appeal with the county clerk.
Tax rates (described in further detail below) are calculated during the summer and tax bills are sent out in autumn, typically by either Oct. 1 or Nov. 1. In areas where bills are sent out by Oct. 1, homeowners who pay their bill by Nov. 1 receive a 2% discount on the total amount. Conversely, homeowners who do not pay until January face a 5% penalty. In February, the penalty is 10% (an additional 10% is also added on top of the new amount due).
Kentucky Property Tax Rates
Tax districts in Kentucky include cities, counties, school districts and other special districts. Those districts set rates each year based on the total assessed value in the district and the amount of revenue they need. Thus, rates change annually. Typically, however, these changes are small.
The table below shows the average effective tax rates for every county in Kentucky. Effective tax rates are calculated by taking the median annual property tax payment as a percentage of the median home value. They reflect the amount a typical homeowner can expect to pay each year.
Whether you’re looking to purchase a new home or refinance your current one, the process of getting a mortgage can be stressful. Take a look at our guide to mortgages in Kentucky to ease the process and allow you to make a well-informed decision.
| County | Median Home Value | Median Annual Property Tax Payment | Average Effective Property Tax Rate |
| Adair | $86,100 | $605 | 0.70% |
| Allen | $98,200 | $746 | 0.76% |
| Anderson | $136,300 | $1,283 | 0.94% |
| Ballard | $108,400 | $725 | 0.67% |
| Barren | $108,300 | $844 | 0.78% |
| Bath | $73,500 | $529 | 0.72% |
| Bell | $59,800 | $441 | 0.74% |
| Boone | $178,300 | $1,705 | 0.96% |
| Bourbon | $140,500 | $1,141 | 0.81% |
| Boyd | $100,700 | $840 | 0.83% |
| Boyle | $136,900 | $1,179 | 0.86% |
| Bracken | $96,200 | $775 | 0.81% |
| Breathitt | $49,600 | $438 | 0.88% |
| Breckinridge | $91,600 | $698 | 0.76% |
| Bullitt | $149,000 | $1,420 | 0.95% |
| Butler | $92,300 | $552 | 0.60% |
| Caldwell | $95,600 | $582 | 0.61% |
| Calloway | $123,400 | $880 | 0.71% |
| Campbell | $156,600 | $1,848 | 1.18% |
| Carlisle | $78,800 | $582 | 0.74% |
| Carroll | $104,200 | $773 | 0.74% |
| Carter | $81,000 | $453 | 0.56% |
| Casey | $76,000 | $532 | 0.70% |
| Christian | $109,200 | $853 | 0.78% |
| Clark | $138,000 | $1,226 | 0.89% |
| Clay | $54,500 | $464 | 0.85% |
| Clinton | $65,900 | $391 | 0.59% |
| Crittenden | $78,500 | $569 | 0.72% |
| Cumberland | $82,100 | $464 | 0.57% |
| Daviess | $119,400 | $1,125 | 0.94% |
| Edmonson | $86,600 | $611 | 0.71% |
| Elliott | $70,700 | $410 | 0.58% |
| Estill | $74,200 | $591 | 0.80% |
| Fayette | $170,800 | $1,667 | 0.98% |
| Fleming | $86,400 | $647 | 0.75% |
| Floyd | $69,400 | $544 | 0.78% |
| Franklin | $138,800 | $1,261 | 0.91% |
| Fulton | $61,600 | $515 | 0.84% |
| Gallatin | $108,700 | $1,104 | 1.02% |
| Garrard | $129,500 | $1,074 | 0.83% |
| Grant | $122,000 | $1,047 | 0.86% |
| Graves | $94,400 | $607 | 0.64% |
| Grayson | $102,700 | $597 | 0.58% |
| Green | $75,000 | $598 | 0.80% |
| Greenup | $99,700 | $946 | 0.95% |
| Hancock | $105,600 | $704 | 0.67% |
| Hardin | $145,700 | $1,128 | 0.77% |
| Harlan | $52,700 | $484 | 0.92% |
| Harrison | $123,700 | $927 | 0.75% |
| Hart | $83,600 | $599 | 0.72% |
| Henderson | $113,500 | $1,011 | 0.89% |
| Henry | $122,300 | $1,109 | 0.91% |
| Hickman | $68,200 | $541 | 0.79% |
| Hopkins | $92,500 | $811 | 0.88% |
| Jackson | $79,400 | $568 | 0.72% |
| Jefferson | $154,100 | $1,442 | 0.94% |
| Jessamine | $160,500 | $1,473 | 0.92% |
| Johnson | $83,800 | $505 | 0.60% |
| Kenton | $147,000 | $1,680 | 1.14% |
| Knott | $50,900 | $366 | 0.72% |
| Knox | $77,000 | $508 | 0.66% |
| Larue | $111,600 | $716 | 0.64% |
| Laurel | $99,900 | $642 | 0.64% |
| Lawrence | $82,800 | $646 | 0.78% |
| Lee | $63,800 | $566 | 0.89% |
| Leslie | $44,200 | $356 | 0.81% |
| Letcher | $57,300 | $404 | 0.71% |
| Lewis | $63,500 | $419 | 0.66% |
| Lincoln | $89,400 | $637 | 0.71% |
| Livingston | $88,700 | $538 | 0.61% |
| Logan | $96,500 | $761 | 0.79% |
| Lyon | $129,400 | $833 | 0.64% |
| Madison | $147,400 | $1,206 | 0.82% |
| Magoffin | $56,500 | $373 | 0.66% |
| Marion | $99,700 | $766 | 0.77% |
| Marshall | $115,300 | $891 | 0.77% |
| Martin | $75,600 | $464 | 0.61% |
| Mason | $105,600 | $789 | 0.75% |
| McCracken | $127,600 | $922 | 0.72% |
| McCreary | $62,500 | $406 | 0.65% |
| McLean | $98,200 | $639 | 0.65% |
| Meade | $134,700 | $1,093 | 0.81% |
| Menifee | $78,500 | $491 | 0.63% |
| Mercer | $134,000 | $1,136 | 0.85% |
| Metcalfe | $77,600 | $604 | 0.78% |
| Monroe | $71,600 | $500 | 0.70% |
| Montgomery | $114,500 | $919 | 0.80% |
| Morgan | $76,900 | $532 | 0.69% |
| Muhlenberg | $81,400 | $536 | 0.66% |
| Nelson | $139,000 | $1,250 | 0.90% |
| Nicholas | $86,200 | $565 | 0.66% |
| Ohio | $85,400 | $539 | 0.63% |
| Oldham | $250,500 | $2,545 | 1.02% |
| Owen | $97,000 | $754 | 0.78% |
| Owsley | $66,200 | $583 | 0.88% |
| Pendleton | $102,100 | $982 | 0.96% |
| Perry | $72,800 | $484 | 0.66% |
| Pike | $73,100 | $490 | 0.67% |
| Powell | $80,200 | $474 | 0.59% |
| Pulaski | $109,100 | $716 | 0.66% |
| Robertson | $115,000 | $808 | 0.70% |
| Rockcastle | $75,100 | $422 | 0.56% |
| Rowan | $117,300 | $828 | 0.71% |
| Russell | $88,600 | $683 | 0.77% |
| Scott | $167,700 | $1,188 | 0.71% |
| Shelby | $176,800 | $1,606 | 0.91% |
| Simpson | $119,700 | $863 | 0.72% |
| Spencer | $186,100 | $1,534 | 0.82% |
| Taylor | $104,300 | $774 | 0.74% |
| Todd | $89,700 | $532 | 0.59% |
| Trigg | $116,600 | $713 | 0.61% |
| Trimble | $114,400 | $881 | 0.77% |
| Union | $82,100 | $733 | 0.89% |
| Warren | $146,100 | $1,089 | 0.75% |
| Washington | $100,700 | $774 | 0.77% |
| Wayne | $80,700 | $530 | 0.66% |
| Webster | $78,700 | $595 | 0.76% |
| Whitley | $79,100 | $529 | 0.67% |
| Wolfe | $64,000 | $440 | 0.69% |
| Woodford | $182,700 | $1,398 | 0.77% |
Jefferson County
Home to more than 15% of the entire population of Kentucky, Jefferson County is easily the most populous in the state. In 2003 the county government merged with that of the city of Louisville. The two now operate as single entity: the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government or simply Louisville Metro. Property tax rates in Jefferson County are higher than the state averages but still relatively low. The average effective tax rate in the county is 0.94%.
Fayette County
There are seven different tax districts in Fayette County with total rates for the 2014 tax year ranging from 1.04% to 1.22%. However, effective rates in the county are below 1% because they incorporate the 2% discount on tax bills that are paid early as well as the homestead exemption for seniors. Fayette County’s average effective tax rate is 0.98%.
Kenton County
Located in northern Kentucky across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Kenton County has the second highest property taxes in the state. The average effective property tax rate in Kenton County is 1.14%, well above the state average of 0.85%.
Boone County
The typical homeowner in Boone County pays $1,705 annually in property taxes. That is nearly $500 less than the national average, although it is much higher than the state average of $1,078. Homeowners who pay their bills by Nov. 1 in Boone County are eligible for the 2% discount on the total face amount of the bill.
Warren County
The fifth most populous county in Kentucky, Warren County has property tax rates far lower than those of the state’s other major counties. The average effective property tax rate in Warren County is just 0.75%.
Hardin County
Like Warren County, property taxes in Hardin County are relatively low. The average effective rate is 0.77%. At that rate, a homeowner whose home has a value of $200,000 would pay $1,540 annually in property taxes.
Daviess County
Tax rates in Daviess County vary depending on whether or not you live in a city. In 2017, real estate that was not located in any city was taxed at a rate of 1.07459 % of assessed value, while city real estate faced a rate of 1.33695%. Those are actual rates, which apply to assessed value. Effective rates, which take into account exemptions and the discount for early payment, are lower.
Campbell County
If you are looking for a bargain on property tax rates in Kentucky, Campbell County may not be your best bet. The county’s average effective property tax rate is 1.18%. That is the highest tax rate in the state and is close to the U.S. average of 1.19%.
Madison County
Madison County is located in central Kentucky, southeast of the city of Lexington. Property taxes in Madison County are lower than those in nearby Fayette County. The average effective rate is 0.82%, meaning a person with a $150,000 home would save about $250 annually on property taxes by living in Madison County instead of Fayette County.
Bullitt County
Bullitt County sits south of Louisville and contains the 40,000 acre army base Fort Knox. Property tax rates in Bullitt County rank eighth in the state, with an average effective tax rate of 0.95%. At that rate, someone with a home value of $200,000 would pay $1,900 every year in property taxes.
Places Receiving the Most Value for Their Property Taxes
SmartAsset’s interactive map highlights the places across the country where property tax dollars are being spent most effectively. Zoom between states and the national map to see the counties getting the biggest bang for their property tax buck.
Methodology
Our study aims to find the places in the United States where people are getting the most value for their property tax dollars. To do this, we looked at property taxes paid, school rankings and the change in property values over a five-year period.
First, we used the number of households, median home value and average property tax rate to calculate a per capita property tax collected for each county.
As a way to measure the quality of schools, we analyzed the math and reading/language arts proficiencies for every school district in the country. We created an average score for each district by looking at the scores for every school in that district, weighting it to account for the number of students in each school. Within each state, we assigned every county a score between 1 and 10 (with 10 being the best) based on the average scores of the districts in each county.
Then, we calculated the change in property tax value in each county over a five-year period. Places where property values rose by the greatest amount indicated where consumers were motivated to buy homes, and a positive return on investment for homeowners in the community.
Finally, we calculated a property tax index, based on the criteria above. Counties with the highest scores were those where property tax dollars are going the furthest.
Sources: US Census Bureau 2018 American Community Survey, Department of Education
