Kentucky's average effective property tax rate is about 0.74%–0.77% of assessed home value (sources vary slightly by methodology: propertytaxbystate.com and SmartAsset cite ~0.74%–0.75%; TaxByCounty.com and propertytaxrates.org cite ~0.73%–0.77%). This makes Kentucky a below-average property tax state nationally — roughly 18–25% lower than the most commonly cited national average of ~0.90%-0.99% (note: national estimates vary by source and year; Tax Foundation/ATTOM-style 2025-2026 data puts the true current national average closer to 0.90%, while some older or differently-weighted sources still cite ~0.99%-1.02%). Either way, Kentucky consistently ranks in the bottom half of states for effective property tax burden. There is meaningful county-level variation within the state: effective rates span roughly 0.48% in Rockcastle County up to about 1.06% in Campbell County, so where a home sits matters as much as the state average.
Example: Estimates for Kentucky's median/typical annual property tax bill for 2025-2026 range from about $1,071 to $1,611 depending on the source and dataset (Census ACS-based medians tend toward ~$1,071-$1,300, while SmartAsset's more recent modeling cites a typical annual bill of about $1,544-$1,611 on a median home value of roughly $205,600). At the county level, bills vary enormously — from about $146/year in Hardin County up to roughly $3,641/year in Oldham County — so a single statewide figure masks large local differences driven by both local tax rates and home values.
Figures for both the state's effective rate and median bill vary noticeably by source (SmartAsset, Tax Foundation, propertytaxbystate.com, propertytaxrates.org, Ownwell, KACo) because they use different underlying datasets (Census ACS survey medians vs. assessed-value modeling) and different vintages of home-value data — treat any single number as a reasonable estimate rather than an exact figure, and always verify current-year local rates and exemption values directly with your county PVA office or the Kentucky Department of Revenue (revenue.ky.gov), since PVAs administer applications and local rates change annually while the homestead/disability exemption amount itself only updates every two years.
Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.