CountyScore

Christian County

Kentucky · KY

#118 in Kentucky
65.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Christian County, Kentucky

Christian County performs respectably above national baseline

Christian County's composite score of 71.8 places it in the 43rd percentile nationally, exceeding the national median of 50.0 by a meaningful margin. The county delivers solid livability fundamentals, though with less pronounced advantages than higher-scoring peers. This ranking reflects a balanced community without exceptional strengths or weaknesses in measured dimensions.

Christian County trails Kentucky's state average

At 71.8, Christian County scores below Kentucky's state average of 75.0, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the commonwealth's counties. The county's higher housing costs and tax burden relative to more rural alternatives weigh on its overall score. However, it remains solidly above national benchmarks despite this state-level disadvantage.

Moderate taxes offer reasonable fiscal environment

Christian County's tax score of 82.2 reflects an effective rate of 0.714%, providing reasonable tax relief compared to national averages. The cost score of 77.3 indicates accessible housing relative to national standards, with median home values at $149,200. These strengths position the county as fiscally stable, though not exceptional by state comparison.

Higher housing costs and modest incomes strain budgets

Median rent of $999 per month is notably higher than in most peer counties, while the income score of 18.8 (median income: $54,190) suggests limited earning potential. The combination of elevated costs and moderate incomes creates tighter financial constraints than in more affordable alternatives. Safety, health, school, and environmental data gaps prevent comprehensive assessment.

Works for those balancing costs and local opportunity

Christian County appeals to households with modest incomes seeking reasonable tax environments and moderate community development. The county offers stability without the exceptional affordability of more rural peers or the earning potential of larger centers. This is a middle-ground option for those willing to stretch budgets in exchange for intermediate-sized community amenities.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax82.2Cost77.3SafetyComing SoonHealth62.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.8Risk20.4WaterComing Soon
🏛82.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠77.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼18.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤62.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡20.4
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Christian County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Houston County
Georgia
65.1
Median income: $80,743
Tift County
Georgia
65.1
Median income: $53,165
Berrien County
Michigan
65.1
Median income: $63,152
Lee County
Mississippi
65.1
Median income: $67,144
Madison County
Mississippi
65.1
Median income: $78,794

Deep Dives

Christian County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Christian County

via TaxByCounty

Christian County taxes near national median

Christian County's effective tax rate of 0.714% aligns closely with the national median of 0.72%, making it representative of typical U.S. property tax burden. The median annual tax of $1,065 on a home valued at $149,200 falls well below the national median of $2,690.

Christian County slightly below Kentucky average

Christian County's 0.714% effective rate runs just below Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, positioning it squarely in the middle of the state's 120 counties. The median tax of $1,065 falls slightly below the state average of $1,093.

Mid-range taxes for the region

Christian County's 0.714% rate falls between Calloway (0.670%) and Carlisle (0.847%), making it moderate within its region. It remains well below Campbell County's 1.064% outlier rate.

Christian County homeowner tax costs

A median Christian County home valued at $149,200 generates approximately $1,065 in annual property taxes. With mortgage and insurance included, homeowners typically pay around $1,244 per year.

Assessment review is always worthwhile

Christian County homeowners should verify their property's assessed value matches fair market conditions. An assessment appeal could unlock savings if your evaluated home value exceeds what comparable properties recently sold for.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Christian County

via CostByCounty

Christian County faces severe rental affordability crisis

At 22.1%, Christian County's rent-to-income ratio ranks among the worst in America, forcing renters to dedicate nearly a quarter of household earnings to rent alone. The $999 monthly rent paired with the $54,190 median income creates an affordability emergency that exceeds even high-cost coastal metros.

Worst affordability in Kentucky's cohort

Christian County's 22.1% rent-to-income ratio dramatically exceeds Kentucky's 17.0% state average and represents the tightest rental market in this entire group. At $999 monthly, rents run $228 above the state median, creating a perfect storm for struggling renters statewide.

Highest rents, lowest-to-mid incomes

Christian's $999 rent towers over all peer counties—$171 higher than Calloway's $828 and $275 above Caldwell's $724. Yet its $54,190 median income falls short of Campbell ($77,271), Carlisle ($62,019), and Caldwell ($57,618), creating the worst absolute affordability equation in this cohort.

Nearly one-quarter income vanishes to rent

Christian County renters pay $999 monthly—a staggering 22.1% of the $54,190 median household income—leaving desperately tight budgets for all other expenses. Homeowners pay $853 monthly, but median home values of $149,200 make purchasing prohibitively expensive for those already strained by rent.

Christian County: avoid unless income is strong

Christian County presents a cautionary case for relocation: its 22.1% rent-to-income ratio is unsustainable for average earners and ranks among America's worst housing affordability markets. Unless you're relocating with significantly above-median income prospects, virtually every other county in this analysis—especially Caldwell, Carlisle, and Carter—offers superior housing stability.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Christian County

via IncomeByCounty

Christian lags state and nation

Christian County's median household income of $54,190 falls below Kentucky's state average of $55,909 by roughly $1,700, and trails the national median of $74,755 by about $20,600. The county earns approximately 72% of typical U.S. household income, placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally.

Below-average rank in Kentucky

Christian County ranks below Kentucky's median for household income, placing it in the bottom half of the state's 120 counties. Per capita income of $26,445 falls notably short of the state average of $29,616, suggesting income concentration among fewer earners.

Mixed standing among regional peers

Christian's $54,190 median household income trails nearby Caldwell ($57,618), Carlisle ($62,019), and Campbell ($77,271), though it exceeds Casey ($41,689) and Carter ($50,389). The county faces moderate competitive disadvantages in the regional income hierarchy.

Rent costs strain household finances

Christian's rent-to-income ratio of 22.1% exceeds the 20% caution threshold, meaning typical renters spend roughly $998 monthly—approaching unaffordable levels. Home values of $149,200 represent a substantial burden for median-earning households, limiting homeownership accessibility.

Manage costs while building savings

Christian County residents facing elevated housing costs should prioritize expense reduction before investing, potentially exploring lower-cost housing options or roommate arrangements. Once housing pressure eases, even modest regular savings into employer retirement plans or high-yield accounts compound toward meaningful wealth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Christian County

via HealthByCounty

Below national average life expectancy

Christian County residents live to 71.5 years, slightly below the U.S. average of 71.4 years with concerning health trends. With 24.8% reporting poor or fair health—well above national rates of roughly 22%—Christian faces significant population-wide chronic disease burden. The county's health trajectory parallels national inequality challenges.

Bottom quarter for Kentucky outcomes

At 71.5 years, Christian County's life expectancy ranks in Kentucky's bottom half, falling 0.7 years below the state average of 72.2 years. The 24.8% poor/fair health rate places Christian among the state's less healthy counties, indicating systemic health challenges. Residents experience substantially worse outcomes than most Kentucky peers.

Unhealthiest in this cohort except Casey

Christian's 24.8% poor/fair health rate ranks second-worst in this eight-county group, surpassed only by Casey (29.5%), and far exceeds Campbell (16.0%) and Calloway (20.0%). At 71.5 years life expectancy, Christian trails top performers by 2-5 years, placing it squarely in the region's least healthy cohort. The county faces health challenges comparable to its most-struggling neighbors.

Best-in-group provider access, moderate uninsured

Christian County's 61 primary care providers per 100,000 is the highest in this group, and 539 mental health providers per 100,000 is extraordinarily high. However, 7.4% lack insurance, slightly above Kentucky's 7.0% average, suggesting provider abundance hasn't fully translated to access for the uninsured. Even robust capacity misses uninsured populations who can't afford to use it.

Seven percent uninsured—connect to care now

Christian County's 7.4% uninsured rate means 1 in 13 residents can't fully leverage the county's exceptional provider network without insurance barriers. Visit healthcare.gov or Kentucky's kynect to find an affordable plan and connect to the abundant primary and mental health providers available locally. Coverage transforms Christian's provider richness into real healthcare access for everyone.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Christian County

via RiskByCounty

Christian County faces elevated disaster risk

Christian County's composite score of 79.64 places it in the Relatively Low category but well above the national average. This western Kentucky county experiences more frequent and varied natural hazards than most U.S. communities.

Among Kentucky's highest-risk counties

At 79.64, Christian County scores 35 points above Kentucky's state average of 44.21, ranking it among the top 5 highest-risk counties in the commonwealth. Few Kentucky communities face comparable multi-hazard exposure.

Riskiest county in western Kentucky

Christian County's 79.64 score exceeds Calloway County (75.35) and dramatically surpasses Caldwell (38.96), Carroll (23.41), and Carlisle (18.73) counties. It stands as the highest-risk county in its entire peer group.

Tornadoes pose extreme threat

Tornado risk reaches 91.22—among the very highest in Kentucky—creating severe spring weather season vulnerability for Christian County residents. Earthquake risk of 93.73 and flood risk of 74.87 compound the multi-hazard danger profile.

Comprehensive preparation is essential

Christian County residents must secure standard homeowners insurance, separate earthquake coverage, and flood insurance if in mapped floodplains—this is truly a multi-hazard county. Install a weather radio, build reinforced interior shelters, and maintain emergency supplies year-round.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.