Pike County's composite score of 74.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by nearly 50 points, placing it in the top tier nationally for livability. This ranking reflects strong fundamentals in affordability and tax burden that resonate across U.S. comparisons.
2 / 5
Slightly Below Kentucky's Baseline
Pike County scores 74.6 against Kentucky's state average of 75.0, placing it just below the middle of the pack statewide. The county represents typical conditions for rural eastern Kentucky communities.
3 / 5
Pike's Sweet Spot: Affordability
Pike County delivers solid cost (85.1) and tax scores (81.8), with a median home value of $104,200 and rent of $837 per month. These figures position Pike as one of Kentucky's most affordable counties for both buyers and renters.
4 / 5
Incomes Trail Peers Significantly
Pike's income score of 10.9 is the lowest among this group, with a median household income of just $42,179. Critical dimensions like safety, health, schools, and water quality have not yet been measured, leaving key livability factors unknown.
5 / 5
Ideal for Budget-First Families
Pike County appeals to families and individuals who prioritize low housing costs and minimal tax burdens over earning potential. The county works best for those with outside income sources, remote employment, or retirees seeking maximum purchasing power.
Pike County's composite score of 74.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by nearly 50 points, placing it in the top tier nationally for livability. This ranking reflects strong fundamentals in affordability and tax burden that resonate across U.S. comparisons.
Slightly Below Kentucky's Baseline
Pike County scores 74.6 against Kentucky's state average of 75.0, placing it just below the middle of the pack statewide. The county represents typical conditions for rural eastern Kentucky communities.
Pike's Sweet Spot: Affordability
Pike County delivers solid cost (85.1) and tax scores (81.8), with a median home value of $104,200 and rent of $837 per month. These figures position Pike as one of Kentucky's most affordable counties for both buyers and renters.
Incomes Trail Peers Significantly
Pike's income score of 10.9 is the lowest among this group, with a median household income of just $42,179. Critical dimensions like safety, health, schools, and water quality have not yet been measured, leaving key livability factors unknown.
Ideal for Budget-First Families
Pike County appeals to families and individuals who prioritize low housing costs and minimal tax burdens over earning potential. The county works best for those with outside income sources, remote employment, or retirees seeking maximum purchasing power.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛81.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Pike County's effective tax rate of 0.727% falls significantly below the national median of roughly 0.9%, putting it in the lowest quartile nationally. Annual property taxes here average just $758 per household, compared to the national median of $2,690.
Pike County ranks near Kentucky's middle
Pike County's 0.727% effective rate sits just below Kentucky's statewide average of 0.719%, placing it near the median among the state's 120 counties. The county's median property tax of $758 trails the state average of $1,093, reflecting Pike's lower home values.
Pike County slightly higher than Perry County
Pike County's 0.727% rate nearly matches neighboring Perry County's 0.729%, but Pike homeowners pay $97 more annually ($758 vs. $661) due to higher median home values. Both counties sit at the lower end of eastern Kentucky's tax spectrum, well below the state average.
Pike County typical annual property tax
On a median home value of $104,200, Pike County homeowners pay approximately $758 annually in property taxes. With mortgage-related assessments included, the total obligation climbs to around $1,263 per year.
Appeal your Pike County assessment
Many homeowners in Pike County may be overassessed, especially if their property hasn't been revalued recently or if comparable homes sold for less. Filing an appeal with the Pike County assessor's office can help correct inflated valuations and reduce your annual tax burden.
Pike County renters spend 23.8% of their income on housing—significantly above the national average near 18%—while earning only $42,179 annually, nearly $33,000 less than the national median. This combination makes Pike one of Kentucky's most strained housing markets for those renting.
Most unaffordable for renters in region
Pike County's 23.8% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Kentucky's worst, exceeding the state average of 17% by nearly 7 percentage points. At $837 monthly, Pike's median rent is also the highest among the eight-county sample, pressuring a workforce earning significantly below state norms.
Pike rents highest, incomes lowest nearby
Pike County combines the highest rent ($837) in the regional peer group with the lowest median household income ($42,179), creating the most challenging rental math. Only Perry County comes close on affordability strain, but Pike's rent is $42 higher with $2,900 less annual income.
Renters squeezed; homeowners find value
Pike renters pay $837 monthly—about 23.8% of $42,179 annual income—while homeowners manage $540 mortgages at just 15.4% of that same income. Median home value of $104,200 suggests ownership could dramatically improve housing affordability for Pike families who can access down payment assistance or favorable lending.
Pike needs more affordable solutions
Renting in Pike County is costly relative to local wages, but homeownership at $104,200 median value offers escape—if financing is available. Relocating to neighboring counties like Rockcastle or Russell could cut your rent 15-20% while maintaining regional employment, worth evaluating before committing to high-burden renting.
Pike County's median household income of $42,179 sits nearly 44% below the national median of $74,755. This $32,576 gap underscores the county's economic challenges relative to U.S. averages.
Among Kentucky's lowest earners
Pike County ranks among the lowest-earning counties in Kentucky, with median household income $13,730 below the state average of $55,909. Only a handful of Kentucky counties earn less than Pike's current median.
Struggling alongside Appalachian peers
Pike's $42,179 income trails Perry County ($45,261) but leads Powell County ($39,811) in the same region. All three counties face similar coal-economy transitions and persistent underemployment.
Rent eats nearly a quarter of pay
Pike's rent-to-income ratio of 23.8% exceeds the 20% affordability threshold, meaning renters struggle to cover housing costs. With median home values at $104,200, buying may offer better long-term value than renting.
Maximize employer benefits now
Even modest 3-5% contributions to 401(k)s compound significantly over decades and reduce taxable income today. Pike residents should prioritize employer matching and explore Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for tax-advantaged saving.
Pike County residents live to an average of 69.3 years—5.2 years less than the U.S. average of 74.5 years. Nearly 28% of Pike County residents report poor or fair health, significantly above the national average of 17.9%.
Among Kentucky's healthier counties
Pike County's life expectancy of 69.3 years ranks slightly below Kentucky's state average of 72.2 years, placing it in the middle of the state's health outcomes. The 27.7% poor/fair health rate reflects the broader chronic disease burden across eastern Kentucky.
Mixed standing in the region
Pike County's life expectancy of 69.3 years is comparable to Powell County (68.6) and Rockcastle (69.2), but trails Pulaski County (72.1) and Russell County (72.1). The county's poor/fair health rate of 27.7% ranks among the higher in its region, suggesting concentrated health challenges.
Primary care access is limited
Pike County has only 75 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—well below the national average of 65 per 100K—while mental health providers number just 182 per 100K. With an uninsured rate of 7.0%, matching the state average, access barriers may include provider shortages as much as lack of coverage.
Explore your health insurance now
Seven percent of Pike County residents are uninsured, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected medical costs. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to find Medicaid eligibility, marketplace plans, or employer-sponsored coverage options.
Pike County faces above-average national disaster risk
Pike County's composite risk score of 87.88 places it in the relatively moderate risk category, substantially exceeding both the national median and Kentucky's state average of 44.21. This reflects Pike's exposure to multiple significant hazards concentrated in flood and wildfire threats.
Pike ranks as one of Kentucky's highest-risk counties
Pike County scores among the highest composite risk levels statewide at 87.88, ranking it in the top tier of Kentucky's 120 counties for disaster vulnerability. This elevated risk reflects the county's geography and landscape, which create pronounced exposure to several hazard types simultaneously.
Pike County's 87.88 score dwarfs neighboring Perry County (73.22), Powell County (31.20), and Rockcastle County (36.13), making it the clear disaster risk leader in its region. Only Perry County approaches Pike's vulnerability level, and all other nearby counties rank substantially lower in overall composite risk.
Flooding and wildfires define Pike's hazard landscape
Flood risk reaches 93.96—the highest in Pike's risk profile and among Kentucky's most severe—while wildfire risk at 90.08 represents another critical threat to structures and residents. Earthquake risk (57.28) and hurricane risk (51.19) are moderate, while tornado risk remains comparatively low at 19.56.
Comprehensive insurance coverage critical for Pike County
Pike County residents should secure flood insurance immediately, given the county's exceptional flood risk score of 93.96; standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. Additionally, properties in wildfire-prone areas should undergo defensible space audits, maintain clear vegetation buffers, and verify roof materials meet fire-resistant standards.