Best Cities for Families in Kentucky
Kentucky ranks #25 of 50 for families, with a families score of 65.1. Independence is its best city for families at 70.5.
- Kentucky, all states
- #25 of 50
- Population
- 29,392
Kentucky for Families: The Full Picture
Kentucky lands in the middle of the pack for families at #25 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — affordability scores excellent at 83/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. A high school graduation rate of 90.1% is encouraging, and a typical home value of $232,577 keeps homeownership within reach.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Kentucky shows mixed results on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 90.1%, above the national average. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 68/100. Center-based infant care costs $13,075 a year, below the 50-state average, easing the financial burden on young families.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Kentucky excels here with one of the lowest violent crime rates in the country at 212.1 incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI estimate). The low cost of living (index: 90.2) means family budgets stretch further here than in most states, leaving more room for savings, activities, and college funds.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Families
| # City | Grade | Families score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Independence | A | 70.5 | 64.4 | 57 | 100 | 74 | 29,392 |
| 2Erlanger | B | 68.3 | 58.4 | 64 | 99 | 80 | 19,875 |
| 3Georgetown | B+ | 67.4 | 60.3 | 57 | 89 | 76 | 39,117 |
| 4Florence | B+ | 66.6 | 60.5 | 70 | 77 | 76 | 32,803 |
| 5Jeffersontown | B+ | 65.8 | 61.1 | — | 87 | 75 | 29,199 |
| 6Elizabethtown | B | 65.7 | 57.4 | 58 | 95 | 82 | 32,576 |
| 7Lexington-Fayette urban county | B+ | 65.6 | 59.9 | 69 | 77 | 75 | 323,725 |
| 8Nicholasville | B | 65.4 | 58.0 | 64 | 84 | 78 | 32,197 |
| 9Covington | B | 64.8 | 57.5 | 67 | 78 | 80 | 41,110 |
| 10Richmond | C+ | 62.6 | 55.5 | 58 | 80 | 86 | 37,111 |
| 11Frankfort | C+ | 62.4 | 53.8 | 66 | 80 | 87 | 28,503 |
| 12Ashland | C | 61.9 | 50.8 | 67 | 77 | 89 | 21,295 |
| 13Madisonville | D | 59.9 | 46.6 | 59 | 94 | 89 | 19,515 |
| 14Bowling Green | C | 58.3 | 50.8 | 63 | 78 | 81 | 75,388 |
| 15Henderson | C | 58.1 | 49.6 | 59 | 80 | 90 | 27,852 |
| 16Owensboro | C | 57.9 | 51.6 | 61 | 64 | 86 | 60,302 |
| 17Radcliff | D | 57.6 | 45.6 | 55 | 77 | 84 | 22,864 |
| 18Paducah | C | 56.6 | 49.8 | 63 | 72 | 89 | 26,845 |
| 19Hopkinsville | D | 56.2 | 45.9 | 60 | 72 | 85 | 30,906 |
| 20Louisville | C | 53.9 | 50.0 | 62 | 39 | 78 | 631,818 |
City families scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out. City scores for families also weigh the county's expected yearly building losses from natural hazards (FEMA), lower is better; the share of adults without health insurance (CDC PLACES), lower is better; the share of households with someone under 18 (Census ACS), higher is better.
Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings
Also See: Kentucky for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kentucky a good state for families?
Kentucky ranks #25 out of 50 for families with a persona-weighted score of 65.1/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (83/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (10/100).
What is the best city for families in Kentucky?
Independence ranks #1 in Kentucky for families with a score of 70.5/100, followed by Erlanger and Georgetown.
What factors are most important for families in Kentucky?
Rankings weighted toward education quality, public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and community livability — the factors that matter most to families with children.