The typical owner-occupied home in Jefferson County is worth about $248,400, 21% above the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 25% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,136 a year in property taxes, about 0.86% of their home's value, higher than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $69,866 a year, so the median home costs 3.6 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Jefferson County at a glance
| Jefferson County | Kentucky | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,400 | $205,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,136 | $1,544 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.86% | 0.75% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $69,866 | $63,726 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 62% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 64% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,593 | $1,433 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.4% | 18.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,149 | $967 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.8% | 28.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1972 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.8% | 10.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 783,022 | 4,534,824 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Jefferson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jefferson County home of $248,400 with 20% down costs about $1,618 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,032, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $69,357 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Jefferson County household income of $69,866; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $250,000.
The median rent here is $1,149 a month, so owning the median home costs about $469 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $49,680 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $198,720 |
| Principal and interest | $1,337 |
| Property taxes (0.86% a year) | $178 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $104 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,618 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $8,694 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $243,901 |
| Principal and interest | $1,641 |
| Property taxes (0.86% a year) | $178 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $104 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $110 |
| Total per month | $2,032 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Jefferson County
What is the median home value in Jefferson County?
About $248,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,136 a year, which is about 0.86% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Jefferson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,618 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $69,357 a year.
More about Jefferson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Jefferson County
- Debt Relief in Jefferson County
- Home Equity Loans in Jefferson County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data