Menifee County's composite score of 79.7 crushes the national median of 50.0, ranking it among the most livable counties nationwide. This 59% advantage reflects exceptional affordability and favorable tax conditions.
2 / 5
Kentucky's Affordability Champion
Menifee ranks above Kentucky's state average of 75.0 with a score of 79.7, making it one of the commonwealth's most livable counties. Its 4.7-point edge signals strong performance in the metrics that matter most to cost-conscious families.
3 / 5
Unbeatable Affordability, Minimal Taxes
Menifee excels with a cost score of 90.1 and tax score of 88.2, the latter reflecting Kentucky's lowest effective tax rate at just 0.500%. Median home values of $111,500 and rents of $634/month make this county extraordinarily affordable for working families.
4 / 5
Incomes Lag Significantly
Menifee's income score of just 12.6 is the lowest among these counties, with median household income of only $44,672. This income-affordability gap—while enabling ultra-low housing costs—suggests limited economic opportunity and wage growth, while safety, health, and school data remain unavailable.
5 / 5
Perfect for Budget-First Seekers
Menifee County is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers, or families prioritizing rock-bottom housing costs and taxes over earning potential. Its exceptional affordability makes it Kentucky's most livable county for those with limited incomes.
Menifee County's composite score of 79.7 crushes the national median of 50.0, ranking it among the most livable counties nationwide. This 59% advantage reflects exceptional affordability and favorable tax conditions.
Kentucky's Affordability Champion
Menifee ranks above Kentucky's state average of 75.0 with a score of 79.7, making it one of the commonwealth's most livable counties. Its 4.7-point edge signals strong performance in the metrics that matter most to cost-conscious families.
Unbeatable Affordability, Minimal Taxes
Menifee excels with a cost score of 90.1 and tax score of 88.2, the latter reflecting Kentucky's lowest effective tax rate at just 0.500%. Median home values of $111,500 and rents of $634/month make this county extraordinarily affordable for working families.
Incomes Lag Significantly
Menifee's income score of just 12.6 is the lowest among these counties, with median household income of only $44,672. This income-affordability gap—while enabling ultra-low housing costs—suggests limited economic opportunity and wage growth, while safety, health, and school data remain unavailable.
Perfect for Budget-First Seekers
Menifee County is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers, or families prioritizing rock-bottom housing costs and taxes over earning potential. Its exceptional affordability makes it Kentucky's most livable county for those with limited incomes.
Score breakdown
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🏛88.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.500%, Menifee County has the lowest effective property tax rate in this eight-county group and significantly outperforms the national median of 0.71%. Homeowners here pay just $558 in median annual property taxes—just 21% of the national median of $2,690.
Well below Kentucky's typical rate
Menifee County's 0.500% rate is substantially lower than Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, making it one of the state's most affordable counties for property taxation. At $558 in median annual taxes, residents pay roughly 51% of the state median of $1,093.
The region's most tax-friendly county
Menifee County's 0.500% effective rate is the lowest in the entire eight-county region, undercutting even second-place Morgan County's 0.757%. This advantage translates to the lowest median tax bill of $558 annually among all comparable nearby counties.
Median home assessment yields $558 tax
A home valued at Menifee County's median of $111,500 generates approximately $558 in annual property taxes. Accounting for mortgage insurance and related costs, that figure rises to about $646 for mortgaged properties.
Even light assessments can be appealed
Even in Menifee County's favorable tax environment, some homeowners may still be overassessed relative to recent comparable sales. Filing an appeal with the county assessor's office is free and may help ensure you're paying only what's fair.
Menifee County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.0% matches Kentucky's state average exactly but reflects deeper challenges: the median household income here is just $44,672—38% below the national median of $74,755. Renters pay $634 monthly, which is manageable in isolation but stretches tighter incomes.
Lowest incomes, average rents
Menifee County sits at the state's 17.0% rent-to-income average, but its median household income of $44,672 is among Kentucky's lowest. This combination means housing costs consume roughly the same share of income as elsewhere in the state, but on much smaller paychecks.
Cheap rents, lower incomes
Menifee's $634 rent is lower than Meade County's $976 and comparable to McLean's $602, yet Menifee's median income of $44,672 is notably lower than both neighbors. This income gap makes affordability ratios less meaningful—residents here earn less even as housing costs remain modest.
Housing costs: rent vs. ownership
Renters in Menifee pay $634 monthly (17.0% of income), while homeowners spend $464 monthly with a median home value of just $111,500. Ownership is more affordable here than renting, and home prices reflect the county's economic challenges and lower demand.
Menifee works if jobs are secure
Menifee offers the region's cheapest housing, but consider the trade-off: median incomes lag significantly behind neighboring counties, suggesting limited job opportunities. If you're relocating with secure remote work or a job lined up, Menifee's low costs make it attractive; otherwise, explore counties with stronger employment prospects.
Menifee County's median household income of $44,672 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by $30,083—a substantial 40% gap. This significant shortfall places Menifee among the lowest-earning counties nationally and signals economic challenges requiring local attention.
Among Kentucky's poorest counties
At $44,672, Menifee County's median household income falls $11,237 below the Kentucky state median of $55,909. This 20% deficit means Menifee residents earn notably less than most other Kentuckians, reflecting limited job opportunities and lower wages in the local economy.
Menifee struggles most locally
Menifee County's $44,672 median household income ranks lowest among its surrounding counties, well below Mercer County ($63,115) and Morgan County ($47,493). The county's economic disadvantage is pronounced compared to higher-earning neighbors to the west and south.
Housing costs strain budgets
Menifee County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.0% consumes a significant portion of household earnings, leaving limited resources for other expenses. Though the median home value of $111,500 is modest, renters and homebuyers alike face tight budgets that can make emergencies financially devastating.
Build financial resilience first
Menifee residents should prioritize establishing emergency savings of three to six months' expenses before investing. Consider free financial literacy programs, employer retirement plans, and community credit counseling to maximize limited resources and gradually build long-term wealth.
At just 70.0 years, Menifee County's life expectancy falls 4.0 years below the U.S. average (74.0) and 2.2 years below Kentucky's state average (72.2). A striking 27.2% of residents report poor or fair health—among the highest rates in the state—signaling deep underlying health vulnerabilities.
Shortest life expectancy in dataset
Menifee ranks near the bottom of Kentucky counties by longevity and shows one of the highest rates of self-reported poor health in the state. These metrics point to significant socioeconomic, lifestyle, and healthcare access barriers that require urgent community attention.
Struggles compared to local peers
Menifee's 70.0-year life expectancy trails all nearby counties, including Morgan (73.0), Metcalfe (71.8), and even the statewide average. Remarkably, Menifee has 48 primary care providers per 100,000 and 334 mental health providers per 100,000—the highest mental health staffing in the region—yet health outcomes remain poor.
Mental health access outpaces outcomes
Despite exceptional mental health provider density (334 per 100,000), Menifee's 27.2% poor health rate suggests barriers beyond availability—likely poverty, transportation, or stigma limiting actual care engagement. At 6.7% uninsured and with 48 primary care providers per 100,000, insurance and provider supply are present but insufficient to reverse health decline.
Comprehensive care starts with coverage
Menifee residents facing health crises need consistent, comprehensive insurance to access the region's available mental and primary care providers. Visit kynect.ky.gov or call 1-855-4-KY-HEALTH to explore Medicaid and financial assistance options that remove coverage barriers.
With a composite risk score of just 6.20, Menifee County is exceptionally safe compared to the national average. This Very Low rating reflects minimal hazard exposure across nearly all disaster types.
Kentucky's safest county profile
Menifee's 6.20 score dramatically outperforms Kentucky's 44.21 average, making it one of the state's lowest-risk counties. The gap underscores how unusual and protective this location truly is.
Distinctly safer than surrounding areas
Menifee's 6.20 score far exceeds neighboring Morgan (22.07) and Monroe (26.65) counties, creating a pocket of exceptional safety. Wildfire risk (51.53) is the notable exception here, though still well-managed statewide.
Wildfire and flood are manageable concerns
Wildfire risk peaks at 51.53 in Menifee—the county's main hazard—but remains relatively contained due to landscape and forest management. Tornado (19.75), earthquake (20.42), and flood (21.76) risks all stay well below state benchmarks.
Standard coverage is likely sufficient
Your homeowners policy will cover most natural hazards in Menifee's low-risk environment, though brush-clearing around your home reduces wildfire exposure. Flood insurance is optional unless your property lies in a designated flood zone.