You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Kentucky.
The median household income in Oldham County, the richest county in Kentucky is $117,334, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 120 counties in the Bluegrass State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Kentucky For 2024
What is the richest county in Kentucky? The richest county in Kentucky is Oldham County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Harlan County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Kentucky. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Kentucky and the cheapest places to live in Kentucky.
The Richest Counties In Kentucky For 2024
1. Oldham County
Biggest Place: La Grange
Population: 67,997
Median Income: $117,334 (highest)
Median Home Price: $400,660 (highest)
More on Oldham County: Data
2. Spencer County
Biggest Place: Elk Creek
Population: 19,549
Median Income: $101,118 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $332,221 (2nd highest)
More on Spencer County: Data
3. Boone County
Biggest Place: Florence
Population: 136,150
Median Income: $91,697 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $297,708 (4th highest)
More on Boone County: Data
4. Woodford County
Biggest Place: Versailles
Population: 26,886
Median Income: $78,295 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $301,775 (3rd highest)
More on Woodford County: Data
5. Shelby County
Biggest Place: Shelbyville
Population: 48,105
Median Income: $81,012 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $282,884 (7th highest)
More on Shelby County: Data
6. Scott County
Biggest Place: Georgetown
Population: 57,286
Median Income: $80,782 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $288,813 (6th highest)
More on Scott County: Data
7. Jessamine County
Biggest Place: Nicholasville
Population: 53,381
Median Income: $69,905 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $277,905 (8th highest)
More on Jessamine County: Data
8. Bullitt County
Biggest Place: Mount Washington
Population: 82,482
Median Income: $73,900 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $255,860 (10th highest)
More on Bullitt County: Data
9. Kenton County
Biggest Place: Covington
Population: 169,066
Median Income: $76,016 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $249,312 (11th highest)
More on Kenton County: Data
10. Campbell County
Biggest Place: Fort Thomas
Population: 93,122
Median Income: $71,979 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $240,236 (14th highest)
More on Campbell County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Kentucky county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Kentucky, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Kentucky for each of the criteria from one to 120, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Kentucky.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Bluegrass State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Kentucky. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Kentucky For 2024
Living in Kentucky can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Kentucky are Oldham County, Spencer County, Boone County, Woodford County, Shelby County, Scott County, Jessamine County, Bullitt County, Kenton County, and Campbell County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Kentucky according to the data:
- Harlan County
- Fulton County
- Bell County
For more Kentucky reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Kentucky
- Safest Places In Kentucky
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kentucky
- Richest Cities In Kentucky
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Kentucky
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oldham County | 67,997 | $117,334 | $400,660 |
| 2 | Spencer County | 19,549 | $101,118 | $332,221 |
| 3 | Boone County | 136,150 | $91,697 | $297,708 |
| 4 | Woodford County | 26,886 | $78,295 | $301,775 |
| 5 | Shelby County | 48,105 | $81,012 | $282,884 |
| 6 | Scott County | 57,286 | $80,782 | $288,813 |
| 7 | Jessamine County | 53,381 | $69,905 | $277,905 |
| 8 | Bullitt County | 82,482 | $73,900 | $255,860 |
| 9 | Kenton County | 169,066 | $76,016 | $249,312 |
| 10 | Campbell County | 93,122 | $71,979 | $240,236 |
| 11 | Fayette County | 321,276 | $66,087 | $289,226 |
| 12 | Meade County | 29,964 | $68,518 | $244,664 |
| 13 | Nelson County | 46,779 | $66,212 | $235,566 |
| 14 | Anderson County | 23,839 | $69,885 | $216,855 |
| 15 | Jefferson County | 779,232 | $66,296 | $234,132 |
| 16 | Warren County | 135,307 | $63,074 | $269,019 |
| 17 | Grant County | 25,085 | $65,461 | $230,668 |
| 18 | Trimble County | 8,510 | $66,492 | $199,507 |
| 19 | Madison County | 92,955 | $59,797 | $245,717 |
| 20 | Hardin County | 111,005 | $64,136 | $209,836 |
| 21 | Clark County | 36,897 | $61,878 | $225,851 |
| 22 | Washington County | 12,025 | $65,456 | $196,598 |
| 23 | Franklin County | 51,475 | $62,929 | $209,173 |
| 24 | Daviess County | 102,916 | $64,021 | $189,234 |
| 25 | Mercer County | 22,662 | $60,728 | $197,903 |
| 26 | Hancock County | 9,058 | $68,102 | $168,003 |
| 27 | Garrard County | 17,175 | $58,263 | $215,711 |
| 28 | Henry County | 15,731 | $58,294 | $212,421 |
| 29 | Gallatin County | 8,720 | $58,641 | $199,120 |
| 30 | Taylor County | 26,056 | $63,211 | $176,826 |
| 31 | Pendleton County | 14,638 | $58,723 | $191,754 |
| 32 | Logan County | 27,498 | $58,869 | $186,541 |
| 33 | Simpson County | 19,574 | $55,907 | $230,240 |
| 34 | Bourbon County | 20,228 | $54,580 | $218,587 |
| 35 | Boyle County | 30,613 | $56,568 | $209,024 |
| 36 | Harrison County | 18,803 | $58,840 | $175,705 |
| 37 | Larue County | 14,902 | $57,867 | $189,949 |
| 38 | Marshall County | 31,706 | $64,597 | $156,347 |
| 39 | Bracken County | 8,420 | $59,911 | $161,218 |
| 40 | Lyon County | 8,721 | $64,081 | $143,496 |
| 41 | Todd County | 12,281 | $57,891 | $170,859 |
| 42 | Mccracken County | 67,573 | $58,490 | $163,966 |
| 43 | Henderson County | 44,770 | $56,912 | $177,431 |
| 44 | Montgomery County | 28,188 | $53,436 | $192,180 |
| 45 | Hickman County | 4,491 | $68,589 | $123,288 |
| 46 | Allen County | 20,773 | $57,159 | $167,978 |
| 47 | Laurel County | 62,442 | $53,693 | $165,950 |
| 48 | Marion County | 19,627 | $49,627 | $186,479 |
| 49 | Mclean County | 9,173 | $64,020 | $119,987 |
| 50 | Christian County | 72,766 | $48,920 | $179,164 |
| 51 | Greenup County | 35,853 | $58,562 | $130,698 |
| 52 | Lincoln County | 24,320 | $49,487 | $173,736 |
| 53 | Nicholas County | 7,613 | $57,539 | $136,269 |
| 54 | Barren County | 44,511 | $48,141 | $180,209 |
| 55 | Carroll County | 10,842 | $50,625 | $167,142 |
| 56 | Edmonson County | 12,179 | $53,029 | $156,797 |
| 57 | Grayson County | 26,465 | $47,024 | $177,667 |
| 58 | Robertson County | 2,207 | $53,798 | $143,127 |
| 59 | Owen County | 11,229 | $56,485 | $135,547 |
| 60 | Union County | 13,495 | $58,260 | $124,271 |
| 61 | Bath County | 12,739 | $51,471 | $147,489 |
| 62 | Butler County | 12,365 | $47,589 | $168,021 |
| 63 | Rowan County | 24,551 | $50,038 | $151,945 |
| 64 | Pulaski County | 65,145 | $48,768 | $161,182 |
| 65 | Livingston County | 8,980 | $56,125 | $125,427 |
| 66 | Hopkins County | 45,223 | $54,466 | $131,985 |
| 67 | Graves County | 36,701 | $52,526 | $136,477 |
| 68 | Breckinridge County | 20,528 | $51,756 | $138,907 |
| 69 | Ohio County | 23,782 | $52,474 | $132,557 |
| 70 | Boyd County | 48,242 | $58,327 | $111,216 |
| 71 | Fleming County | 15,111 | $46,885 | $158,020 |
| 72 | Mason County | 17,068 | $48,460 | $140,956 |
| 73 | Ballard County | 7,742 | $57,111 | $112,550 |
| 74 | Metcalfe County | 10,313 | $46,932 | $143,322 |
| 75 | Adair County | 18,887 | $49,690 | $130,301 |
| 76 | Hart County | 19,345 | $45,561 | $147,362 |
| 77 | Carlisle County | 4,782 | $53,065 | $116,623 |
| 78 | Caldwell County | 12,635 | $52,488 | $116,330 |
| 79 | Russell County | 18,021 | $48,220 | $131,920 |
| 80 | Muhlenberg County | 30,735 | $50,935 | $118,022 |
| 81 | Webster County | 12,951 | $55,451 | $108,361 |
| 82 | Lawrence County | 16,228 | $42,488 | $144,890 |
| 83 | Wayne County | 19,666 | $41,583 | $144,073 |
| 84 | Trigg County | 14,154 | $55,864 | $85,654 |
| 85 | Carter County | 26,671 | $47,004 | $122,958 |
| 86 | Clinton County | 9,295 | $41,180 | $138,622 |
| 87 | Green County | 11,198 | $38,595 | $141,502 |
| 88 | Rockcastle County | 16,171 | $45,693 | $122,129 |
| 89 | Wolfe County | 6,573 | $28,666 | $156,888 |
| 90 | Monroe County | 11,331 | $47,252 | $112,691 |
| 91 | Johnson County | 22,631 | $44,231 | $119,702 |
| 92 | Whitley County | 36,648 | $44,332 | $115,970 |
| 93 | Casey County | 15,942 | $42,190 | $116,664 |
| 94 | Calloway County | 37,345 | $48,276 | $87,914 |
| 95 | Powell County | 13,089 | $38,415 | $125,149 |
| 96 | Morgan County | 13,840 | $46,018 | $101,417 |
| 97 | Knox County | 30,207 | $34,254 | $132,361 |
| 98 | Cumberland County | 5,974 | $40,515 | $115,696 |
| 99 | Crittenden County | 8,979 | $45,810 | $93,180 |
| 100 | Menifee County | 6,174 | $43,797 | $103,865 |