Meade County's composite score of 73.1 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the better half of U.S. counties for livability. This 46% advantage demonstrates solid fundamentals in tax and housing affordability.
2 / 5
Slightly Below Kentucky Average
Meade's score of 73.1 falls just short of Kentucky's state average of 75.0, indicating it's a competitive but not top-tier option within the commonwealth. The 1.9-point gap suggests comparable livability to most Kentucky counties.
3 / 5
Tax Efficiency, Reasonable Costs
Meade's tax score of 82.3 and cost score of 77.1 form its foundation, with an effective tax rate of 0.711% and median home value of $195,000. Median household income of $70,163 provides reasonable earning power for this price point.
4 / 5
Higher Rents, Lower Incomes
Meade's median gross rent of $976/month is notably higher than comparable counties, straining housing affordability despite lower home prices. An income score of 29.2 signals that wages lag behind what the housing market demands, and key data on safety, schools, and health remain incomplete.
5 / 5
For Tax-Conscious Homebuyers
Meade County appeals to homeowners seeking moderate tax burdens and owner-occupied affordability, though renters face tighter budgets. Its score reflects solid but unexceptional livability compared to Kentucky peers.
Meade County's composite score of 73.1 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the better half of U.S. counties for livability. This 46% advantage demonstrates solid fundamentals in tax and housing affordability.
Slightly Below Kentucky Average
Meade's score of 73.1 falls just short of Kentucky's state average of 75.0, indicating it's a competitive but not top-tier option within the commonwealth. The 1.9-point gap suggests comparable livability to most Kentucky counties.
Tax Efficiency, Reasonable Costs
Meade's tax score of 82.3 and cost score of 77.1 form its foundation, with an effective tax rate of 0.711% and median home value of $195,000. Median household income of $70,163 provides reasonable earning power for this price point.
Higher Rents, Lower Incomes
Meade's median gross rent of $976/month is notably higher than comparable counties, straining housing affordability despite lower home prices. An income score of 29.2 signals that wages lag behind what the housing market demands, and key data on safety, schools, and health remain incomplete.
For Tax-Conscious Homebuyers
Meade County appeals to homeowners seeking moderate tax burdens and owner-occupied affordability, though renters face tighter budgets. Its score reflects solid but unexceptional livability compared to Kentucky peers.
Score breakdown
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🏛82.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Meade County's effective tax rate of 0.711% remains nearly identical to the national median, making it representative of typical property tax burdens across America. However, median property taxes here are just $1,386 annually—roughly 52% of the national median of $2,690—reflecting lower home values in the region.
Nearly aligned with Kentucky average
Meade County's rate of 0.711% practically mirrors Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, placing it squarely in the middle of the state's tax landscape. The median annual tax of $1,386 is 27% higher than the state median of $1,093, reflecting Meade's higher median home values.
Mid-range burden among nearby counties
Meade County's 0.711% rate falls between Menifee County's low of 0.500% and Mercer County's high of 0.819% in this eight-county region. It ranks as the second-highest payer in median dollars ($1,386), trailing only Mercer County's $1,553.
Median home costs $1,386 annually
Owners of a median-valued home in Meade County at $195,000 pay approximately $1,386 per year in property taxes. That amount reaches $1,585 annually when mortgage insurance and related fees are factored in.
Appeal your assessment if overvalued
Many Meade County homeowners may be paying taxes on inflated assessments without realizing it. Kentucky allows property owners to formally appeal their assessments during designated periods—a process that costs nothing and could result in significant annual savings.
Meade County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.7% sits just below Kentucky's state average of 17.0% but significantly exceeds the national norm. Renters here pay $976 monthly on a median household income of $70,163, placing housing costs well above the affordable threshold.
Middle of the Kentucky pack
Meade County's 16.7% rent-to-income ratio places it near the state average of 17.0%, making it a middle-tier option for housing affordability in Kentucky. Neither a bargain nor particularly expensive, Meade reflects statewide cost pressures.
Costlier rents than nearby counties
Meade's $976 monthly rent is the highest among its regional neighbors—nearly 60% above McLean County's $602 and well above Menifee County's $634. This rent premium reflects higher housing demand and values in Meade, where the median home price reaches $195,000.
Housing costs: rent vs. ownership
Renters in Meade County spend $976 monthly (16.7% of income), while homeowners face an $893 monthly cost with a median home value of $195,000. Housing consumes a notably larger share of household budgets here compared to more affordable counties in the region.
Budget carefully in Meade County
Meade County's housing costs run near the state average, making it a reasonable option for those with steady incomes but not ideal for budget-conscious relocators. Compare rent and home prices carefully against nearby McLean or Menifee before committing to a move.
Meade County's median household income of $70,163 falls just $4,592 short of the national median of $74,755. This strong showing places Meade among the more prosperous U.S. counties and signals a healthy local economy comparable to much of America.
Meade ranks third statewide
At $70,163, Meade County ranks among Kentucky's highest-earning counties, exceeding the state median household income of $55,909 by over $14,000. This 25% advantage demonstrates that Meade's residents earn substantially more than typical Kentuckians.
Meade keeps pace with McLean
Meade County's $70,163 income nearly matches nearby McLean County ($70,549) and substantially outpaces Mercer County ($63,115) to the south. The two northern counties form a higher-income corridor distinct from the surrounding rural economy.
Housing costs demand attention
Meade County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.7% exceeds the national comfort standard of 28%, but remains manageable for most households. The median home value of $195,000 is reasonable relative to local incomes, though renters should budget carefully to avoid financial strain.
Leverage Meade's strong earnings
Meade County's above-average income provides excellent opportunity for building equity through homeownership and investment. With housing relatively affordable, residents can pursue down payments on homes or allocate surplus income to retirement accounts and diversified portfolios.
Meade County residents live to an average of 75.1 years—outpacing both the U.S. average (74.0) and Kentucky's state average (72.2) by meaningful margins. Just 20.3% report poor or fair health, suggesting a relatively robust population health profile for this north-central Kentucky county.
Among Kentucky's longest-living counties
Meade ranks among the top counties in Kentucky by life expectancy, with only a handful of peers reaching 75+ years. The county's 6.3% uninsured rate trails the state average of 7.0%, indicating broader insurance coverage access than most Kentucky communities.
Leads region in mental health staffing
Meade's 75.1-year life expectancy tops McLean (74.5) and surpasses many rural neighbors like Mercer (73.4) and Monroe (72.3). With 73 mental health providers per 100,000 residents and 23 primary care providers per 100,000, Meade offers stronger healthcare infrastructure than most adjacent counties.
Strong primary and mental health access
Meade boasts 23 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—above many rural Kentucky benchmarks—and 73 mental health providers per 100,000. Only 6.3% lack health insurance, among the lowest rates in the state and suggesting good accessibility to care overall.
Maintain your coverage, stay healthy
With strong provider access already in place, keeping your health insurance active is key to maximizing Meade's healthcare advantages. If circumstances change and you need coverage options, kynect.ky.gov connects you to plans quickly.
At 40.90, Meade County's composite risk score puts it well below the national average, earning a Very Low rating. The county's hazard profile is broadly manageable across most disaster types.
Slightly below Kentucky average
Meade's 40.90 sits just below the state mean of 44.21, ranking the county among Kentucky's safer areas. This modest advantage reflects balanced but generally low vulnerability statewide.
Tornado risk outpaces nearby peers
Meade's tornado risk of 75.92 significantly exceeds neighboring McLean (37.56) and Mercer (69.12), making severe weather the county's defining hazard. Flood risk (45.20) and earthquake threat (61.29) remain secondary concerns.
Tornado risk stands out sharply
Meade County faces elevated tornado danger at 75.92—well above the state average—requiring serious preparation and awareness during severe weather season. Earthquake (61.29) and flood (45.20) risks remain substantially lower but warrant baseline preparedness.
Prioritize tornado and wind coverage
Your homeowners policy covers tornado damage, but verify it includes full wind and hail protection given Meade's elevated tornado risk. A separate flood policy is essential if your property sits in a FEMA flood zone or low-lying area.