Taylor County: Exceeds National Livability Standards
Taylor County's composite score of 76.5 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by more than 26 points, marking it as one of the most livable counties nationally. This strong performance is anchored by exceptional housing affordability and low tax burden.
2 / 5
Kentucky's Standout Livable County
Taylor County ranks above Kentucky's state average of 75.0 with a score of 76.5, placing it among the state's most desirable counties. Its 1.5-point edge makes it one of Kentucky's genuine livability leaders.
3 / 5
Outstanding Housing Affordability
Taylor County excels with a cost score of 85.5—the highest among these eight counties—featuring rents of just $691/month and home values of $163,700. Combined with a tax score of 82.1 and effective rate of 0.717%, it creates the most affordable overall housing market here.
4 / 5
Lower Income Limits Economic Dynamism
Taylor County's income score of 23.8 reflects a median household income of $61,871, the second-lowest among these counties and limiting upward mobility. Missing data on safety, health, schools, and environment leaves important livability factors unassessed.
5 / 5
Unbeatable for Budget-Focused Households
Taylor County is perfect for retirees, remote workers, and families maximizing every dollar of housing budget while minimizing taxes. Its extraordinary housing affordability makes it the region's premier choice for those where stretching dollars matters most.
Taylor County: Exceeds National Livability Standards
Taylor County's composite score of 76.5 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by more than 26 points, marking it as one of the most livable counties nationally. This strong performance is anchored by exceptional housing affordability and low tax burden.
Kentucky's Standout Livable County
Taylor County ranks above Kentucky's state average of 75.0 with a score of 76.5, placing it among the state's most desirable counties. Its 1.5-point edge makes it one of Kentucky's genuine livability leaders.
Outstanding Housing Affordability
Taylor County excels with a cost score of 85.5—the highest among these eight counties—featuring rents of just $691/month and home values of $163,700. Combined with a tax score of 82.1 and effective rate of 0.717%, it creates the most affordable overall housing market here.
Lower Income Limits Economic Dynamism
Taylor County's income score of 23.8 reflects a median household income of $61,871, the second-lowest among these counties and limiting upward mobility. Missing data on safety, health, schools, and environment leaves important livability factors unassessed.
Unbeatable for Budget-Focused Households
Taylor County is perfect for retirees, remote workers, and families maximizing every dollar of housing budget while minimizing taxes. Its extraordinary housing affordability makes it the region's premier choice for those where stretching dollars matters most.
Score breakdown
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🏛82.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Taylor County's effective tax rate of 0.717% sits below the national median of 0.876%, placing it in the lower-to-moderate range nationally. The median property tax of $1,174 is less than half the national median of $2,690, reflecting lower home values and favorable rates. Taylor County offers a tax advantage compared to typical U.S. properties.
Competitive rate, moderate tax burden
Taylor County's effective rate of 0.717% matches Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, while its median tax of $1,174 slightly exceeds the state median of $1,093. With lower median home values of $163,700, Taylor County provides affordable homeownership with manageable tax obligations.
Taylor competitive with rural peers
Taylor County's 0.717% rate places it between Spencer County (0.712%) and Scott County (0.681%), offering solid value in rural Kentucky. Its low home values compare favorably to other non-metro counties in the region.
What Taylor County homeowners pay
With a median home value of $163,700, Taylor County residents pay approximately $1,174 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, that burden rises to $1,208; without one, it drops to $1,136.
Appeal to lower your bill
Taylor County's modest assessments still warrant verification during revaluation cycles, as overassessment can occur at any income level. Homeowners discovering inflated property values can file an appeal with the county assessor to secure immediate tax relief.
Taylor County renters spend just 13.4% of their $61,871 median household income on housing—nearly 4 percentage points below the national average and substantially better than Kentucky's 17.0% state average. At $691 monthly, Taylor's median rent is the lowest in this group, creating real budget relief for renters.
Strong affordability on Kentucky scale
With a 13.4% rent-to-income ratio, Taylor County ranks well above average for affordability across Kentucky, beating the state average by 3.6 percentage points. Despite below-average household income, Taylor's low rent base creates genuine relief for residents.
Cheapest rents in the region
Taylor County's $691 median rent is 41% lower than Scott County ($1,181) and 31% below Shelby County ($998), making it the bargain market in this comparison. Even Todd County's $841 rent runs 22% higher, and Taylor's $163,700 median home value undercuts every neighbor.
Renters and homeowners equally positioned
Both renters and homeowners in Taylor County spend roughly 13% of the $61,871 median household income on housing—renters at 13.4% and homeowners at 13.5%. This rare parity reflects Taylor's affordable fundamentals across both rental and ownership markets.
Taylor County: budget-conscious relocation choice
Taylor County delivers the region's lowest rents and home values, ideal for anyone prioritizing affordability and willing to accept below-average local incomes. Rural character and minimal housing costs make Taylor perfect for remote workers, retirees, or anyone seeking maximum housing cost relief.
Taylor County's median household income of $61,871 runs 17.2% below the U.S. median of $74,755, putting it in the lower-middle range of American counties. This reflects rural economic pressures across much of Kentucky.
Near-average earners in Kentucky
Taylor County's median income of $61,871 ranks just 10.7% above the state average of $55,909, positioning it modestly above the Kentucky baseline. The county represents a middle ground in the state's income distribution.
Taylor outearns some, trails others locally
Taylor County's $61,871 household income exceeds Simpson County ($57,392) and Todd County ($57,759), but lags behind Trimble County ($67,813) and the wealthier counties to the north. Its per capita income of $28,714 aligns with rural state averages.
Rent-to-income ratio remains manageable
Taylor County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.4% sits comfortably below the 20% affordability caution zone, giving households breathing room in their budgets. The median home value of $163,700 is relatively modest and accessible to most earning families.
Build steady financial security over time
Taylor County residents benefit from reasonable housing costs that free up income for savings and investments. Establish a disciplined approach to wealth building through regular contributions to retirement accounts and emergency savings, even if amounts are modest.
At 71.7 years, Taylor County's life expectancy falls 2.7 years short of the U.S. average of 74.4 years. Additionally, 21.6% report poor or fair health, above the national average of 21%, indicating significant health challenges across the county.
Below-Average Health Outcomes
Taylor County's 71.7-year life expectancy falls 0.5 years below Kentucky's 72.2-year average, placing it in the lower half of state health rankings. This shortfall reflects persistent wellness disparities in the region.
Worst-Performing Peer County
Taylor County's 71.7-year life expectancy is the lowest among all peer counties, trailing Scott (75.7 years) by 4 years and Shelby (76.2 years) by 4.5 years. Its 21.6% poor/fair health rate ranks among the region's worst.
Exceptional Provider Access
Despite health challenges, Taylor County boasts impressive healthcare infrastructure with 72 primary care providers per 100,000—among the highest in the region—and 269 mental health providers per 100,000. At 6.4% uninsured, below the state average, coverage is strong but health outcomes remain poor.
Use Available Resources Fully
Taylor County's excellent provider availability offers a unique advantage; 6.4% of residents still lack insurance. Visit healthcare.gov or contact your county health department to ensure you're enrolled in coverage and accessing the mental and primary care services available locally.
Taylor County scores 38.71 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and falling below Kentucky's state average of 44.21. This positions Taylor as a relatively safe county compared to many American communities.
Where Taylor ranks among Kentucky counties
Taylor County's composite risk score of 38.71 places it in Kentucky's safer tier, with below-average exposure to major hazards. Taylor residents benefit from substantially lower natural disaster risk than the state median.
How Taylor compares to nearby counties
Taylor's 38.71 score sits safely below Scott County (56.08) and Shelby County (61.86), but above Spencer County (13.33) and Todd County (28.56). Taylor occupies a moderate position within the regional risk landscape, offering reasonable protection compared to higher-risk neighbors.
Taylor's primary natural disaster threats
Tornadoes pose Taylor's greatest hazard risk at 68.89, warranting serious preparedness attention. Earthquakes rank second at 67.21, creating secondary but meaningful ground-shaking exposure.
Prepare Taylor County homes thoughtfully
Taylor's moderate tornado and earthquake risks suggest adding wind and earthquake coverage to standard homeowners policies. Flood insurance is also worth reviewing, given Taylor's 40.62 flood risk score indicating real water damage potential.