CountyScore

Pendleton County

Kentucky · KY

#50 in Kentucky
71.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Pendleton County, Kentucky

Solid Livability Performance Nationally

Pendleton County scores 74.3, nearly 49% above the national median of 50.0, indicating strong livability for a rural Appalachian county. Reasonable costs and low taxes support a reliable quality-of-life foundation.

Just Below Kentucky's Average

At 74.3, Pendleton County falls slightly below the state average of 75.0, placing it just outside the upper tier of Kentucky counties. The marginal gap reflects competitive but not exceptional performance across dimensions.

Balanced Costs and Moderate Incomes

Pendleton County's cost score of 81.5 reflects median home values of $160,800 and $800 monthly rents, offering solid value. The income score of 26.9 reflects median household income of $66,601, among the stronger figures in this group.

Tax Burden Slightly Higher

The 0.775% effective tax rate produces an 80.5 tax score, slightly elevated compared to neighboring counties in this cohort. Missing data on safety, health, and schools prevents full assessment of community strengths.

Good Fit for Working Families

Pendleton County appeals to working families seeking balanced living costs with stronger earning potential than some rural Kentucky alternatives. The moderate profile suits those valuing community stability over extreme affordability or premium amenities.

Score breakdown

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

Tax80.5Cost81.5SafetyComing SoonHealth64.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome26.9Risk70.1WaterComing Soon
🏛80.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠81.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼26.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤64.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡70.1
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 Pendleton County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Monroe County
Alabama
71.6
Median income: $40,225
Bradford County
Florida
71.6
Median income: $59,740
Banks County
Georgia
71.6
Median income: $68,830
Warrick County
Indiana
71.6
Median income: $95,027
Mason County
Kentucky
71.6
Median income: $51,473

Deep Dives

Pendleton County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Pendleton County

via TaxByCounty

Pendleton County above national median

Pendleton County's effective tax rate of 0.775% exceeds the national median of 0.88%, placing it in approximately the 55th percentile nationally. At $1,246 in median annual property taxes on a $160,800 home, Pendleton residents pay less than half the national median tax of $2,690.

Above-average within Kentucky

Pendleton County's 0.775% rate ranks above Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, placing it in the upper-middle tier statewide for tax burden. The median property tax of $1,246 exceeds the state median by $153, reflecting above-average tax positioning.

Moderate-to-higher taxes regionally

Pendleton County's 0.775% rate is higher than Nicholas (0.568%), Ohio (0.613%), Muhlenberg (0.694%), and Owen (0.746%), but lower than Nelson (0.795%) and Oldham (0.921%). The county sits in the upper-middle range of regional tax burden.

Pendleton homeowner annual tax cost

A median-valued home of $160,800 in Pendleton County generates $1,246 in annual property taxes. With mortgage-related assessments factored in, total annual obligations reach approximately $1,460.

Pendleton residents should review assessments

With above-average county tax rates, Pendleton homeowners benefit from verifying their property assessments match current market values. A property tax appeal is a simple, free process that often results in substantial savings when overassessment is discovered.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Pendleton County

via CostByCounty

Pendleton Delivers Competitive Affordability

Pendleton County's 14.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the state's best, sitting 2.6 percentage points below Kentucky's average while monthly rent of $800 remains modest. With $66,601 median household income, Pendleton residents earn well above many rural Kentucky peers, keeping housing costs proportionally light.

Top-Tier Kentucky Affordability

Pendleton County ranks among Kentucky's most affordable places overall, combining solid incomes with restrained housing costs to produce one of the state's lowest rent burdens. The county's 14.4% rent-to-income ratio places it firmly in the affordability elite.

Pendleton Competes Well Regionally

Pendleton's $800 rent undercuts Oldham ($1,142) substantially while slightly exceeding Owen County ($775) and matching Muhlenberg-area pricing. Home values of $160,800 place Pendleton between Nicholas County's bargains ($119,600) and Owen County's higher values ($165,000), offering solid middle ground.

Efficient Income-to-Housing Allocation

At $66,601 annual income, Pendleton residents allocate just 14.4% to rent and 14.9% to mortgage costs—among the lowest ratios in the study. This leaves over 70% of income for all other household expenses, emergencies, and wealth-building.

Pendleton Balances Value and Earnings

If you're seeking a Kentucky county where solid incomes meet restrained housing costs, Pendleton County offers rare equilibrium. Renters and homebuyers alike will find reasonable prices and strong earning potential—a combination that supports financial stability and long-term growth.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Pendleton County

via IncomeByCounty

Pendleton County earns above state average

Pendleton County's median household income of $66,601 exceeds Kentucky's state average of $55,909 by $10,692 but trails the national median of $74,755 by $8,154. This 11% gap below national figures reflects regional income constraints, though Pendleton outperforms most of its state. Pendleton ranks solidly in the middle range nationally.

Upper-tier earner for Kentucky

At $66,601, Pendleton County beats 70% of Kentucky counties and significantly exceeds the state median of $55,909. The per capita income of $30,460 also outpaces the state average of $29,616 by 3%, indicating reasonably distributed prosperity. Pendleton holds a strong position in Kentucky's income hierarchy.

Regional income leader outside Oldham

Pendleton ($66,601) ranks second only to Nelson ($67,888) among non-Oldham counties, narrowly outearning Owen ($59,706) by $6,895. The $35,537 gap with Oldham reflects Pendleton's location outside Louisville's wealthiest suburbs. Still, Pendleton's income advantage over most neighboring counties positions it as a regional economic leader.

Excellent housing affordability

Pendleton County's rent-to-income ratio of 14.4% ties for lowest in this region, meaning households spend just over one-seventh of income on rent. The median home value of $160,800 is reasonable relative to earnings, offering genuine housing stability. Pendleton households enjoy affordability well above national standards.

Strong position for wealth accumulation

Pendleton County households earning $66,601 have excellent opportunity to build wealth through home equity, retirement savings, and strategic investments. The combination of above-average income and below-average housing cost ratios creates genuine surplus for long-term financial goals. Financial planning focused on diversification and tax efficiency yields meaningful results for Pendleton residents.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Pendleton County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy near national average

Pendleton County residents live to 72.1 years, just 0.7 years above the U.S. average of 71.4 years. Nearly 23% report poor or fair health, indicating substantial underlying health burden despite borderline life expectancy.

Tracking Kentucky's health average closely

Pendleton County's 72.1-year life expectancy nearly mirrors Kentucky's 72.2-year state average, while its 6.8% uninsured rate sits just below the state's 7.0% average. This alignment suggests the county represents typical Kentucky health challenges.

Mid-range health outcomes, limited providers

Pendleton County's 22.9% poor/fair health rate ties with Owen County, and its 27 primary care providers per 100K ranks in the lower-middle tier of this eight-county comparison. The 54 mental health providers per 100K offer modest support.

Adequate coverage, moderate provider access

Pendleton County's 6.8% uninsured rate is close to the state average, meaning most residents have insurance but the coverage may not translate to accessible care. With 27 primary care providers per 100K, the county offers limited but functional primary care capacity.

Enroll to access local providers

Pendleton County's 6.8% uninsured residents should enroll at healthcare.gov to join the majority with coverage and ensure access to the county's primary care providers. Insurance coverage enables the preventive care that can help reduce the 22.9% poor/fair health rate.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Pendleton County

via RiskByCounty

Pendleton County enjoys low risk

Pendleton County scores 29.90 on the composite risk scale, well below Kentucky's state average of 44.21, positioning it among the nation's lower-risk counties. The county's minimal earthquake (30.88) and hurricane (8.34) exposures, combined with manageable flood and tornado risks, create a favorable disaster profile.

Very low risk in Kentucky context

Pendleton County's 29.90 composite score places it firmly in Kentucky's very-low-risk tier, ranking safely below the state average across its 120 counties. Only Owen (15.20) and Owsley (6.39) demonstrate comparably low overall hazard exposure in the commonwealth.

Far safer than high-risk neighbors

Pendleton County's 29.90 score stands significantly below elevated-risk neighbors Nelson (55.18), Ohio (54.17), and Oldham (55.98) to the south and west, yet slightly above nearby Owen (15.20). The county occupies a favorable middle ground within its region, balancing safety with reasonable disaster preparedness needs.

Tornadoes rank as primary concern

Pendleton County's most notable hazard is tornado risk (51.81), which remains moderate and manageable with proper preparation. Flood risk (49.11) ranks nearly equivalent, while earthquake (30.88) and wildfire (5.53) present minimal concerns for most residents.

Standard coverage handles exposure

Standard homeowners insurance and a basic tornado safety plan provide adequate protection for Pendleton County's low-to-moderate hazard exposure. Residents should maintain storm awareness during severe weather season but need not invest in specialized coverage beyond conventional homeowners policies.

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.