The typical owner-occupied home in Knox County is worth about $118,700, 42% below the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 64% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $779 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of their home's value, lower than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $32,527 a year, so the median home costs 3.6 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 35% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Knox County at a glance
| Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,700 | $205,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $779 | $1,544 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.66% | 0.75% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $32,527 | $63,726 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 65% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 35% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,104 | $1,433 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.8% | 18.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $681 | $967 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.8% | 28.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1985 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 15.5% | 10.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 29,865 | 4,534,824 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Knox County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Knox County home of $118,700 with 20% down costs about $754 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $951, 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 $32,295 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Knox County household income of $32,527; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $120,000.
The median rent here is $681 a month, so owning the median home costs about $73 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $23,740 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $94,960 |
| Principal and interest | $639 |
| Property taxes (0.66% a year) | $65 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $49 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $754 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $4,154 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $116,550 |
| Principal and interest | $784 |
| Property taxes (0.66% a year) | $65 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $49 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $52 |
| Total per month | $951 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Knox County
What is the median home value in Knox County?
About $118,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Knox County?
Homeowners pay a median $779 a year, which is about 0.66% 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 Knox County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $754 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $32,295 a year.
More about Knox County
- Mortgage Refinance in Knox County
- Debt Relief in Knox County
- Home Equity Loans in Knox 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