Groundwork

Market rankings · Kentucky

Real estate businesses in Kentucky

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

Listings
4,973
310 chain locations (6%)
Official establishments
2,657
+20.5% since 2019
Household spending a year
$25.9B
On rent and homeowner costs
Listings per 10k households
27.4
29% below the U.S.
Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)
120
20% above the U.S.
Rank among states
#13 of 51
Market score 60 · Upper middle

A site report maps the real estate businesses 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

Map listings as of September 2026 show 4,973 real estate businesses in Kentucky. Of those, 310 are chain locations, or 6%, against 6% across the U.S. That is 27.4 per 10,000 households, 29% below the U.S. rate of 38.5.

Households in Kentucky spend about $25.9B a year on rent and homeowner costs, or $14,283 per household, 14% below the U.S. average. Housing spending per office is 20% 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 businesses take in.

In 2023, official counts showed 2,657 businesses with payroll in Kentucky classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors, up 20.5% from 2019. That is one for every 683 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 15.8% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 17 SBA-backed loans worth $4.7M have gone to businesses classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in Kentucky.

Among the 50 states and DC, Kentucky ranks #13 for real estate businesses, 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 Mount Sterling area scores highest (66).

Every market in Kentucky for real estate businesses

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 businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH6222314.7216−2.6%#73 of 387
1Bowling Green, KY5921128.8113+9.5%#104 of 387
2Paducah, KY-IL589121.8149−1.2%#107 of 387
3Elizabethtown, KY5314528.6117+2.4%#154 of 387
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN522,69629.7115+2.7%#163 of 387
Clarksville, TN-KY4853042.478+8.5%#208 of 387
4Owensboro, KY4713830.5109+1.3%#211 of 387
5Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN411,99435.796+2.9%#272 of 387
6Lexington-Fayette, KY3496844.878+3.4%#346 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Kentucky, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
1Mount Sterling, KY662815.4200+3.1%#79 of 536
2Mayfield, KY651712.0256+1.4%#84 of 536
3Glasgow, KY653917.6172+2.6%#89 of 536
4Pikeville, KY58338.5340−5.4%#148 of 536
5Henderson, KY583514.9211−0.9%#149 of 536
6Franklin, KY581822.4142+5.9%#157 of 536
7Corbin, KY579015.9183+0.1%#164 of 536
8Danville, KY574721.6144+3.6%#171 of 536
9Frankfort, KY557623.5142+3.1%#198 of 536
10Middlesborough, KY541111.1241−4.8%#206 of 536
11Campbellsville, KY532919.8155+3.4%#228 of 536
12Madisonville, KY463619.6157−0.5%#306 of 536
13Richmond-Berea, KY4613827.8115+7.0%#319 of 536
14Somerset, KY446825.9117+3.5%#339 of 536
15Murray, KY325133.592+4.9%#491 of 536

Counties

Counties in Kentucky, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
1Harrison County, KY80811.0300+4.9%#24 of 2,229
2Spencer County, KY801216.4233+7.7%#28 of 2,229
3Lincoln County, KY7699.3328+4.6%#84 of 2,229
4Grant County, KY7377.6429+4.7%#136 of 2,229
5Hart County, KY72810.8278+4.3%#161 of 2,229
6Woodford County, KY701816.6218+3.7%#210 of 2,229
7Nelson County, KY703015.7213+4.8%#211 of 2,229
8Anderson County, KY701818.6182+5.5%#216 of 2,229
9Meade County, KY681715.4225+2.2%#273 of 2,229
10Mercer County, KY671314.2230+4.8%#301 of 2,229
11Russell County, KY671013.2228+3.4%#303 of 2,229
12Bullitt County, KY675617.6202+5.0%#308 of 2,229
13Jessamine County, KY653115.6225+7.8%#376 of 2,229
14Morgan County, KY64510.2288+5.0%#393 of 2,229
15Marion County, KY641012.9240+2.7%#404 of 2,229
16Washington County, KY64816.5193+2.7%#416 of 2,229
17Logan County, KY631614.5214+4.2%#451 of 2,229
18Breckinridge County, KY631214.9210+5.2%#452 of 2,229
19Carter County, KY62109.3327−1.7%#480 of 2,229
20Grayson County, KY622019.7155+3.6%#513 of 2,229
21Muhlenberg County, KY6164.9631−0.9%#520 of 2,229
22Greenup County, KY6185.4589−1.9%#521 of 2,229
23Graves County, KY611712.0256+1.4%#530 of 2,229
24Oldham County, KY605323.0187+4.9%#570 of 2,229
25Garrard County, KY601319.4163+7.3%#577 of 2,229
Show all 120 counties
Counties in Kentucky, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score, continued
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
26Floyd County, KY59128.2350−3.9%#592 of 2,229
27Allen County, KY591417.4180+9.5%#622 of 2,229
28Adair County, KY591318.2165+2.9%#627 of 2,229
29Barren County, KY593418.9162+2.6%#628 of 2,229
30Ohio County, KY581011.0282+0.8%#646 of 2,229
31Pike County, KY57218.6334−6.4%#695 of 2,229
32Scott County, KY576528.7128+8.2%#738 of 2,229
33Metcalfe County, KY56512.2241+2.9%#751 of 2,229
34Owen County, KY55716.5190+2.6%#816 of 2,229
35Campbell County, KY558722.2163+2.5%#828 of 2,229
36Clark County, KY543321.9149+2.3%#872 of 2,229
37Shelby County, KY544624.9144+6.2%#874 of 2,229
38Simpson County, KY541822.4142+5.9%#875 of 2,229
39Johnson County, KY5366.6433−2.6%#891 of 2,229
40Bell County, KY531111.1241−4.8%#899 of 2,229
41Monroe County, KY53612.9228−1.1%#902 of 2,229
42Carroll County, KY53819.1166+2.9%#919 of 2,229
43Montgomery County, KY532220.0156+2.5%#924 of 2,229
44Caldwell County, KY52713.9224−0.3%#962 of 2,229
45Marshall County, KY503325.0132−0.1%#1,088 of 2,229
46Kenton County, KY5018727.8131+3.9%#1,090 of 2,229
47Laurel County, KY505824.2128+1.6%#1,091 of 2,229
48Christian County, KY494216.3186−3.6%#1,122 of 2,229
49Henderson County, KY493317.8178−0.9%#1,123 of 2,229
50Franklin County, KY495825.5130+2.0%#1,140 of 2,229
51Whitley County, KY482719.9145+1.6%#1,179 of 2,229
52Perry County, KY4798.1360−6.4%#1,198 of 2,229
53Boyd County, KY473618.6170−0.9%#1,211 of 2,229
54Hopkins County, KY473619.6157−0.5%#1,218 of 2,229
55Trigg County, KY471423.1137+3.1%#1,229 of 2,229
56Warren County, KY4718733.698+10.6%#1,251 of 2,229
57Lewis County, KY46612.0248−1.4%#1,257 of 2,229
58Wayne County, KY461012.4229+0.3%#1,258 of 2,229
59Rowan County, KY462121.9139−1.0%#1,283 of 2,229
60Pulaski County, KY456825.9117+3.5%#1,350 of 2,229
61Powell County, KY44510.4270−2.2%#1,371 of 2,229
62Bourbon County, KY441822.1148−0.3%#1,386 of 2,229
63Boyle County, KY443831.5100+2.9%#1,420 of 2,229
64Madison County, KY4413135.493+9.4%#1,426 of 2,229
65Butler County, KY43919.7155+1.6%#1,446 of 2,229
66Boone County, KY4324748.580+6.5%#1,493 of 2,229
67Taylor County, KY422524.4127+2.9%#1,514 of 2,229
68Harlan County, KY411110.3274−7.6%#1,549 of 2,229
69Hardin County, KY4014332.0105+2.4%#1,623 of 2,229
70Daviess County, KY3713632.7102+1.5%#1,797 of 2,229
71McCracken County, KY368330.1111−0.5%#1,837 of 2,229
72Calloway County, KY335133.592+4.9%#1,981 of 2,229
73Mason County, KY311622.4136−1.2%#2,030 of 2,229
74Jefferson County, KY291,47744.577+1.6%#2,103 of 2,229
75Fayette County, KY2880357.561+2.2%#2,135 of 2,229
Knox County, KYNot scored43.4783−2.2%
Letcher County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−7.0%
Clay County, KYNot scored11.42,019−4.1%
McCreary County, KYNot scored11.71,525+1.7%
Rockcastle County, KYNot scored34.6643+0.6%
Lawrence County, KYNot scored23.2931−3.3%
Casey County, KYNot scored34.6630+1.8%
Henry County, KYNot scored46.5492+4.8%
Fleming County, KYNot scored46.8431+4.6%
Larue County, KYNot scored23.3957+2.1%
Pendleton County, KYNot scored35.5578+1.1%
Estill County, KYNot scored46.7434−1.4%
Knott County, KYNot scored35.4523−5.9%
Breathitt County, KYNot scored11.81,479−8.3%
Union County, KYNot scored11.91,593−5.9%
Jackson County, KYNot scored23.9719+2.8%
Bath County, KYNot scored36.4487+3.6%
Webster County, KYNot scored24.1759−0.7%
Todd County, KYNot scored48.8371+5.6%
Edmonson County, KYNot scored12.01,526+5.0%
Green County, KYNot scored49.0330+4.6%
Magoffin County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−4.3%
Martin County, KYNot scored12.61,121−4.9%
Leslie County, KYNot scored12.41,172−8.0%
Clinton County, KYNot scored718.2156−1.0%
McLean County, KYNot scored25.5602−0.8%
Hancock County, KYNot scored25.5574−0.6%
Crittenden County, KYNot scored616.9176−2.2%
Livingston County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−0.1%
Lyon County, KYNot scored1749.767+5.2%
Gallatin County, KYNot scored13.11,053+1.9%
Trimble County, KYNot scored00.0n/a+2.8%
Bracken County, KYNot scored617.8188+1.3%
Nicholas County, KYNot scored518.0166+5.4%
Ballard County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−1.5%
Lee County, KYNot scored13.9701−0.9%
Elliott County, KYNot scored14.1699−0.9%
Wolfe County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−4.0%
Fulton County, KYNot scored13.9689−4.5%
Menifee County, KYNot scored312.1236+4.8%
Cumberland County, KYNot scored415.2180+2.3%
Carlisle County, KYNot scored210.7303−1.2%
Hickman County, KYNot scored317.3186−3.4%
Owsley County, KYNot scored00.0n/a−2.5%
Robertson County, KYNot scored00.0n/a+6.6%

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

Questions

How many real estate businesses are in Kentucky?

There are 4,973 real estate businesses on map listings in Kentucky as of September 2026. 310 of them (6%) are chain locations. The listings count real estate agents and brokers, property managers, mortgage brokers and lenders, and home inspectors. Official counts show 2,657 businesses with payroll classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in 2023, up 20.5% from 2019. Official counts also show 15,279 one-person businesses without payroll.

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 4,973 real estate businesses on map listings, housing spending per office is 20% above the U.S. figure. The spending figure is all rent and homeowner costs, a measure of housing demand, not money real estate businesses 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 businesses?

Kentucky has 27.4 real estate businesses per 10,000 households, 29% below the U.S. rate of 38.5. The index of housing spending per office is 120, where 100 is the U.S. At the national ratio of real estate businesses to household spending, Kentucky would have about 5,983, against 4,973 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 683 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. The official count rose 20.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +15.8% for the U.S.

Which market in Kentucky has the highest market score for real estate businesses?

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 Mount Sterling area scores highest, at 66 (upper middle). Among 75 scored counties in Kentucky, Harrison County scores highest, at 80 (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 businesses (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 businesses 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.