D

Cave City, KY

Source:

Affordability Score: 42/100

Population: 6,199 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Cave City, KY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,199 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (42/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $42,893, median home value of $164,000, median rent of $713 per month, and 12.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $868 per month (studio $657, 1BR $662, 3BR $1,102, 4BR $1,280). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $6,511 per year, consuming 15% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education. Unemployment currently reads 7.3% and poverty 22.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$42,893
Median household income
Education F
12.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.8x
Home value $164,000 vs income
Commute D
26 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$868/mo
2BR fair market rent (24% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$6,511/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$42,893
▼ 31% vs national
Per Capita Income
$25,056
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Poverty Rate
22.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$164,000
▼ 40% vs national
Median Rent
$713/mo
Owner Occupied
50.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$868/mo
▼ 28% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$657
1BR
$662
2BR
$868
3BR
$1,102
4BR
$1,280

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
12.1%
▼ 18 ppt vs national
High School+
56.9%
Median Age
43.9
Avg. Commute
26 min
▲ 0 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$6,511/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$5,962/yr
Preschool (Center)
$5,962/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,294/yr

What This Means

Cave City, KY receives an overall affordability grade of D (42/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,199. Challenges include income and education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Cave City ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Cave City, KY affordable?
Cave City, KY receives an overall affordability grade of D (42/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $42,893. Median home value is $164,000.
What is the cost of living in Cave City?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $713/mo. 2BR fair market rent $868/mo. Infant childcare $6,511/yr. Median home value $164,000.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →