Kentucky

These are the 10 richest counties in Kentucky, analysis says. Do you live in one?

Here’s how the top 10 wealthiest counties in Kentucky compare, according to an analysis from finance website SmartAsset.
Here’s how the top 10 wealthiest counties in Kentucky compare, according to an analysis from finance website SmartAsset. Getty Images

Oldham County was recently named the wealthiest county in Kentucky by finance website SmartAsset, and the analysis found Fayette the 11th richest.

Though Fayette County just missed the top 10 this year, with a median income of $66,087, several areas in Central and Northern Kentucky made the list. SmartAsset reported Fayette County’s median home value is $305,465 and its investment income is $56,668.

The ranking used sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, real estate site Zillow and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to compile the ranking. The three metrics considered included investment income, property value and median income. The most recent ranking reflects data from 2024, according to SmartAsset.

Jessamine, Woodford and Scott counties were among the 10 wealthiest in SmartAsset’s report, with median incomes ranging from $69,905 to $80,782.

Statewide, Kentucky’s median household income is $62,417, according to the Census Bureau, and 16.4% of the state’s residents live in poverty.

Here’s how the 10 wealthiest counties in Kentucky stacked up, from SmartAsset.

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The wealthiest counties in Kentucky

1. Oldham County

  • Median income: $117,334

  • Investment income: $73,941

  • Median home value: $412,175

2. Spencer County

  • Median income: $101,118

  • Investment income: $23,143

  • Median home value: $340,393

3. Boone County

  • Median income: $91,697

  • Investment income: $36,846

  • Median home value: $308,787

4. Kenton County

  • Median income: $76,016

  • Investment income: $107,683

  • Median home value: $263,038

5. Shelby County

  • Median income: $81,012

  • Investment income: $45,724

  • Median home value: $293,836

6. Scott County

  • Median income: $80,782

  • Investment income: $35,477

  • Median home value: $302,199

7. Woodford County

  • Median income: $78,295

  • Investment income: $44,380

  • Median home value: $313,335

8. Jessamine County

  • Median income: $69,905

  • Investment income: $67,955

  • Median home value: $292,317

9. Campbell County

  • Median income: $71,979

  • Investment income: $47,230

  • Median home value: $251,779

10. Bullitt County

  • Median income: $73,900

  • Investment income: $23,708

  • Median home value: $264,520

Several counties switched places from 2023’s ranking, which named these the 10 wealthiest Kentucky counties: Oldham, Spencer, Woodford, Boone, Shelby, Scott, Fayette, Jessamine, Jefferson and Campbell.

Do you have a question about the Kentucky economy for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Email ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form.

Meredith Howard
Belleville News-Democrat
Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription
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