Best Cities for Remote Workers in Kentucky
What Remote Workers Should Know About Kentucky
Kentucky ranks #46 out of 50 for remote workers β a state where remote workers may face some headwinds. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. On that front, Kentucky's cost-of-living index of 90 is well below the national average β a remote worker earning a coastal salary here gains significant purchasing power.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 8% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. Broadband reaches 88.4% of households β solid in metro areas, though rural spots may have gaps.
Taxes are moderate at 8.93% of income β not a major draw but not a dealbreaker. Housing affordability (score: 88/100) is a clear advantage β the median home costs $263,000, a manageable ratio for most remote salaries.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # | City | Grade | Remote Workers Score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Outdoor Access | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independence | B | 55.9 | 53.8 | 80 | 61 | 10 | 29,024 |
| 2 | Elizabethtown | C+ | 52.8 | 50.7 | 84 | 39 | 10 | 31,870 |
| 3 | Georgetown | C+ | 51.9 | 50.4 | 79 | 52 | 10 | 38,206 |
| 4 | Nicholasville | C | 50.0 | 49.5 | 75 | 48 | 10 | 31,625 |
| 5 | Erlanger | C+ | 49.8 | 49.8 | 76 | 44 | 10 | 19,677 |
| 6 | Florence | C | 49.6 | 48.4 | 81 | 47 | 10 | 32,334 |
| 7 | Jeffersontown | D | 49.1 | 44.5 | 72 | 50 | 10 | 28,988 |
| 8 | Richmond | D | 46.9 | 45.3 | 84 | 35 | 10 | 35,498 |
| 9 | Covington | C | 46.4 | 46.4 | 84 | 42 | 10 | 40,902 |
| 10 | Bowling Green | D | 45.4 | 44.6 | 83 | 36 | 10 | 76,215 |
| 11 | Madisonville | C | 45.2 | 45.6 | 78 | 47 | 10 | 19,442 |
| 12 | Lexington-Fayette urban county | D | 45.2 | 40.8 | 72 | 39 | 10 | 320,154 |
| 13 | Frankfort | D | 44.4 | 45.0 | 77 | 39 | 10 | 28,452 |
| 14 | Louisville | D | 43.7 | 40.7 | 81 | 42 | 10 | 622,987 |
| 15 | Radcliff | D | 43.5 | 42.3 | 77 | 36 | 10 | 22,967 |
| 16 | Owensboro | D | 43.4 | 42.0 | 85 | 36 | 10 | 60,112 |
| 17 | Henderson | D | 42.6 | 41.5 | 85 | 33 | 10 | 27,994 |
| 18 | Ashland | D | 42.0 | 42.5 | 87 | 32 | 10 | 21,405 |
| 19 | Paducah | D | 40.9 | 40.8 | 78 | 37 | 10 | 26,894 |
| 20 | Hopkinsville | F | 39.0 | 38.2 | 78 | 30 | 10 | 31,011 |