C+

Nicholasville, KY

Source:

Affordability Score: 61/100

Population: 40,503 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Nicholasville, KY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 40,503 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (61/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $74,495, median home value of $268,100, median rent of $1,154 per month, and 32.0% 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 $1,272 per month (studio $883, 1BR $1,079, 3BR $1,743, 4BR $1,940). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,433 per year, consuming 13% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Nicholasville, KY include rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.3% and poverty 11.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$74,495
Median household income
Education C-
32.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.6x
Home value $268,100 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,272/mo
2BR fair market rent (20% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$9,433/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$74,495
▲ 20% vs national
Per Capita Income
$43,672
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Poverty Rate
11.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$268,100
▼ 3% vs national
Median Rent
$1,154/mo
Owner Occupied
67.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,272/mo
▲ 6% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$883
1BR
$1,079
2BR
$1,272
3BR
$1,743
4BR
$1,940

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
32.0%
▲ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
62.0%
Median Age
39.8
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,433/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$7,973/yr
Preschool (Center)
$7,973/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,031/yr

What This Means

Nicholasville, KY receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 40,503. This area performs well in rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Nicholasville, KY affordable?
Nicholasville, KY receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $74,495. Median home value is $268,100.
What is the cost of living in Nicholasville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,154/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,272/mo. Infant childcare $9,433/yr. Median home value $268,100.
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 →