Groundwork

Market rankings · Kentucky

Real estate agents and brokers in Kentucky

Markets across Kentucky ranked by the Groundwork market score for real estate agents and brokers, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
3,893
138 chain locations (4%)
Official establishments
1,450
+21.6% since 2019
Household spending a year
$25.9B
On rent and homeowner costs
Listings per 10k households
21.5
30% below the U.S.
Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)
122
22% above the U.S.
Rank among states
#13 of 51
Market score 60 · Upper middle

A site report maps the real estate agents and brokers on map listings around any address in Kentucky by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

As of September 2026, map listings count 3,893 real estate agents and brokers in Kentucky. Chain locations make up 4% of them, against 4% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 21.5, 30% below the U.S. rate of 30.6.

Household spending on rent and homeowner costs in Kentucky comes to about $25.9B a year: $14,283 per household, 14% below the U.S. average. Housing spending per office is 22% above the U.S. figure. That figure is all rent and homeowner costs, used as a measure of housing demand; it is not money real estate agents and brokers take in.

In 2023, official counts showed 1,450 businesses with payroll in Kentucky classed as offices of real estate agents and brokers, up 21.6% from 2019. That is one for every 1,251 households, against one for every 788 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 20.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 8 SBA-backed loans worth $1.8M have gone to businesses classed as offices of real estate agents and brokers in Kentucky.

Among the 50 states and DC, Kentucky ranks #13 for real estate agents and brokers, with a Groundwork market score of 60 (upper middle). Of the 9 scored metro areas in or partly in Kentucky, the Huntington-Ashland metro area scores highest (62). Of the 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in Kentucky, the Mayfield area scores highest (73).

Every market in Kentucky for real estate agents and brokers

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Kentucky, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Kentucky, ranked for real estate agents and brokers by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH621519.9254−2.6%#76 of 387
1Bowling Green, KY5916322.2116+9.5%#96 of 387
2Paducah, KY-IL537518.0144−1.2%#147 of 387
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN522,08223.0119+2.7%#164 of 387
3Owensboro, KY519420.8127+1.3%#173 of 387
4Elizabethtown, KY4811723.1115+2.4%#198 of 387
Clarksville, TN-KY4841833.579+8.5%#205 of 387
5Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN411,52827.4100+2.9%#267 of 387
6Lexington-Fayette, KY3477535.877+3.4%#348 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Kentucky, ranked for real estate agents and brokers by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
1Mayfield, KY73149.9247+1.4%#34 of 533
2Mount Sterling, KY652614.3171+3.1%#86 of 533
3Glasgow, KY623415.4157+2.6%#113 of 533
4Frankfort, KY615416.7159+3.1%#126 of 533
5Pikeville, KY59276.9330−5.4%#139 of 533
6Henderson, KY572912.4202−0.9%#165 of 533
7Danville, KY563917.9138+3.6%#177 of 533
8Franklin, KY561518.7135+5.9%#178 of 533
9Corbin, KY557914.0166+0.1%#188 of 533
10Campbellsville, KY552315.7156+3.4%#189 of 533
11Madisonville, KY503016.3150−0.5%#258 of 533
12Richmond-Berea, KY4510922.0116+7.0%#334 of 533
13Middlesborough, KY4477.0301−4.8%#335 of 533
14Somerset, KY415721.7111+3.5%#371 of 533
15Murray, KY333623.6103+4.9%#477 of 533

Counties

Counties in Kentucky, ranked for real estate agents and brokers by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
1Harrison County, KY7868.2318+4.9%#52 of 2,176
2Spencer County, KY751013.7222+7.7%#87 of 2,176
3Grant County, KY7277.6341+4.7%#146 of 2,176
4Hart County, KY7156.8353+4.3%#169 of 2,176
5Woodford County, KY711513.9208+3.7%#182 of 2,176
6Marion County, KY7067.8318+2.7%#203 of 2,176
7Bullitt County, KY703711.7243+5.0%#209 of 2,176
8Nelson County, KY702412.5212+4.8%#214 of 2,176
9Lincoln County, KY6888.2293+4.6%#259 of 2,176
10Graves County, KY68149.9247+1.4%#268 of 2,176
11Mercer County, KY671213.1198+4.8%#302 of 2,176
12Allen County, KY661113.7182+9.5%#333 of 2,176
13Anderson County, KY651515.5174+5.5%#367 of 2,176
14Jessamine County, KY632613.1213+7.8%#422 of 2,176
15Adair County, KY63811.2213+2.9%#423 of 2,176
16Carroll County, KY62512.0211+2.9%#465 of 2,176
17Muhlenberg County, KY6154.1602−0.9%#498 of 2,176
18Greenup County, KY6174.7535−1.9%#499 of 2,176
19Morgan County, KY61510.2229+5.0%#508 of 2,176
20Oldham County, KY604117.8192+4.9%#556 of 2,176
21Breckinridge County, KY601113.6182+5.2%#558 of 2,176
22Pike County, KY59166.6348−6.4%#576 of 2,176
23Meade County, KY591614.5190+2.2%#594 of 2,176
24Barren County, KY592916.1151+2.6%#606 of 2,176
25Floyd County, KY58117.5304−3.9%#628 of 2,176
Show all 120 counties
Counties in Kentucky, ranked for real estate agents and brokers by Groundwork market score, continued
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
26Christian County, KY57249.3259−3.6%#672 of 2,176
27Russell County, KY57911.9201+3.4%#681 of 2,176
28Franklin County, KY573917.2154+2.0%#694 of 2,176
29Kenton County, KY5714020.8139+3.9%#698 of 2,176
30Logan County, KY561412.7194+4.2%#735 of 2,176
31Washington County, KY56714.4175+2.7%#740 of 2,176
32Clark County, KY562415.9163+2.3%#744 of 2,176
33Shelby County, KY563720.0143+6.2%#754 of 2,176
34Ohio County, KY551011.0224+0.8%#774 of 2,176
35Campbell County, KY556917.6163+2.5%#786 of 2,176
36Garrard County, KY541014.9168+7.3%#822 of 2,176
37Simpson County, KY541518.7135+5.9%#839 of 2,176
38Scott County, KY545624.7118+8.2%#850 of 2,176
39Trigg County, KY531016.5152+3.1%#890 of 2,176
40Montgomery County, KY532018.2136+2.5%#901 of 2,176
41Marshall County, KY532619.7133−0.1%#902 of 2,176
42Carter County, KY5287.4325−1.7%#914 of 2,176
43Caldwell County, KY52611.9208−0.3%#918 of 2,176
44Metcalfe County, KY52512.2192+2.9%#923 of 2,176
45Boyd County, KY512714.0180−0.9%#985 of 2,176
46Hopkins County, KY513016.3150−0.5%#992 of 2,176
47Warren County, KY5114325.7102+10.6%#1,015 of 2,176
48Owen County, KY50716.5151+2.6%#1,044 of 2,176
49Grayson County, KY491716.8145+3.6%#1,094 of 2,176
50Henderson County, KY482714.6172−0.9%#1,141 of 2,176
51Taylor County, KY471918.5133+2.9%#1,220 of 2,176
52Bourbon County, KY461417.2151−0.3%#1,268 of 2,176
53Whitley County, KY462518.5124+1.6%#1,279 of 2,176
54Perry County, KY4598.1286−6.4%#1,305 of 2,176
55Wayne County, KY44911.1202+0.3%#1,356 of 2,176
56Madison County, KY4410227.595+9.4%#1,387 of 2,176
57Bell County, KY4377.0301−4.8%#1,397 of 2,176
58Daviess County, KY439222.1119+1.5%#1,417 of 2,176
59Pulaski County, KY435721.7111+3.5%#1,428 of 2,176
60Lewis County, KY42612.0197−1.4%#1,455 of 2,176
61Boyle County, KY413125.798+2.9%#1,538 of 2,176
62Boone County, KY4120740.676+6.5%#1,548 of 2,176
63Powell County, KY40510.4214−2.2%#1,554 of 2,176
64Butler County, KY40817.5139+1.6%#1,565 of 2,176
65Rowan County, KY391919.8122−1.0%#1,643 of 2,176
66Hardin County, KY3911626.0103+2.4%#1,652 of 2,176
67Laurel County, KY365020.8118+1.6%#1,792 of 2,176
68McCracken County, KY366724.3109−0.5%#1,798 of 2,176
69Calloway County, KY343623.6103+4.9%#1,897 of 2,176
70Jefferson County, KY311,11533.681+1.6%#2,002 of 2,176
71Fayette County, KY2964045.860+2.2%#2,064 of 2,176
72Mason County, KY281419.6123−1.2%#2,073 of 2,176
Knox County, KYNot scored43.4622−2.2%
Harlan County, KYNot scored43.7599−7.6%
Johnson County, KYNot scored44.4516−2.6%
Letcher County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−7.0%
Clay County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−4.1%
McCreary County, KYNot scored11.71,212+1.7%
Rockcastle County, KYNot scored34.6511+0.6%
Lawrence County, KYNot scored23.2739−3.3%
Casey County, KYNot scored34.6501+1.8%
Henry County, KYNot scored34.9521+4.8%
Fleming County, KYNot scored46.8342+4.6%
Larue County, KYNot scored11.71,521+2.1%
Pendleton County, KYNot scored23.7688+1.1%
Estill County, KYNot scored46.7344−1.4%
Knott County, KYNot scored35.4416−5.9%
Breathitt County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−8.3%
Union County, KYNot scored11.91,265−5.9%
Jackson County, KYNot scored23.9571+2.8%
Bath County, KYNot scored36.4387+3.6%
Webster County, KYNot scored24.1603−0.7%
Todd County, KYNot scored48.8295+5.6%
Edmonson County, KYNot scored12.01,212+5.0%
Green County, KYNot scored49.0262+4.6%
Magoffin County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−4.3%
Monroe County, KYNot scored48.6272−1.1%
Martin County, KYNot scored12.6890−4.9%
Leslie County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−8.0%
Clinton County, KYNot scored718.2124−1.0%
McLean County, KYNot scored25.5478−0.8%
Hancock County, KYNot scored12.7913−0.6%
Crittenden County, KYNot scored514.1168−2.2%
Livingston County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−0.1%
Lyon County, KYNot scored1646.857+5.2%
Gallatin County, KYNot scored13.1837+1.9%
Trimble County, KYNot scored00.0n/a+2.8%
Bracken County, KYNot scored411.9224+1.3%
Nicholas County, KYNot scored518.0132+5.4%
Ballard County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−1.5%
Lee County, KYNot scored13.9557−0.9%
Elliott County, KYNot scored14.1556−0.9%
Wolfe County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−4.0%
Fulton County, KYNot scored13.9548−4.5%
Menifee County, KYNot scored312.1188+4.8%
Cumberland County, KYNot scored311.4191+2.3%
Carlisle County, KYNot scored210.7240−1.2%
Hickman County, KYNot scored317.3148−3.4%
Owsley County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−2.5%
Robertson County, KYNot scored00.0n/a+6.6%

Markets with fewer than 5 real estate agents and brokers on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many real estate agents and brokers are in Kentucky?

Kentucky has 3,893 real estate agents and brokers on map listings as of September 2026. 138 of them (4%) are chain locations. The listings count real estate agents and brokerages, commercial brokers included. Official counts show 1,450 businesses with payroll classed as offices of real estate agents and brokers in 2023, up 21.6% from 2019.

How much do households in Kentucky spend on rent and homeowner costs?

About $25.9B a year, or $14,283 per household. That is 14% below the U.S. average (an index of 86, where 100 is the U.S. average). For the 3,893 real estate agents and brokers on map listings, housing spending per office is 22% above the U.S. figure. The spending figure is all rent and homeowner costs, a measure of housing demand, not money real estate agents and brokers take in. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,814,469 households in Kentucky and national spending patterns by income.

How does Kentucky compare with the U.S. for real estate agents and brokers?

Kentucky has 21.5 real estate agents and brokers per 10,000 households, 30% below the U.S. rate of 30.6. The index of housing spending per office is 122, where 100 is the U.S. At the national ratio of real estate agents and brokers to household spending, Kentucky would have about 4,753, against 3,893 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,251 households, against one for every 788 across the U.S. The official count rose 21.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +20.1% for the U.S.

Which market in Kentucky has the highest market score for real estate agents and brokers?

Among 9 scored metro areas in or partly in Kentucky, the Huntington-Ashland metro area scores highest, at 62 (upper middle). Among 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in Kentucky, the Mayfield area scores highest, at 73 (upper middle). Among 72 scored counties in Kentucky, Harrison County scores highest, at 78 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Kentucky scores 60 for real estate agents and brokers (upper middle), #13 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Kentucky. It maps the real estate agents and brokers on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.