The typical owner-occupied home in Nelson County is worth about $238,000, 16% above the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 28% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,891 a year in property taxes, about 0.79% of their home's value, higher than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $69,562 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Nelson County at a glance
| Nelson County | Kentucky | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,000 | $205,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,891 | $1,544 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.79% | 0.75% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $69,562 | $63,726 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 78% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 59% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,379 | $1,433 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.5% | 18.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,008 | $967 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.6% | 28.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1992 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.8% | 10.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 47,606 | 4,534,824 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Nelson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Nelson County home of $238,000 with 20% down costs about $1,537 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,933, 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 $65,858 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median Nelson County household income of $69,562; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $251,000.
The median rent here is $1,008 a month, so owning the median home costs about $529 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $47,600 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $190,400 |
| Principal and interest | $1,281 |
| Property taxes (0.79% a year) | $157 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $99 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,537 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $8,330 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $233,689 |
| Principal and interest | $1,572 |
| Property taxes (0.79% a year) | $157 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $99 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $105 |
| Total per month | $1,933 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Nelson County
What is the median home value in Nelson County?
About $238,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Nelson County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,891 a year, which is about 0.79% 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 Nelson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,537 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $65,858 a year.
More about Nelson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Nelson County
- Debt Relief in Nelson County
- Home Equity Loans in Nelson 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