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Buying a home in Nicholas County, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Nicholas County is worth about $123,000, 40% below the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 63% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $729 a year in property taxes, about 0.59% of their home's value, lower than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $59,531 a year, so the median home costs 2.1 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Nicholas County at a glance

Nicholas County Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $123,000 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $729 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.59% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $59,531 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 42% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,143 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.1% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $728 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.8% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1972 1982 1980
Vacant homes 16.7% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 7,708 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Nicholas County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Nicholas County home of $123,000 with 20% down costs about $774 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $979, 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 $33,157 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Nicholas County household income of $59,531; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $221,000.

The median rent here is $728 a month, so owning the median home costs about $46 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$24,600
Loan amount$98,400
Principal and interest$662
Property taxes (0.59% a year)$60
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$51
PMI$0
Total per month$774

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,305
Loan amount$120,772
Principal and interest$812
Property taxes (0.59% a year)$60
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$51
FHA mortgage insurance$54
Total per month$979

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Questions about home buying in Nicholas County

What is the median home value in Nicholas County?

About $123,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Nicholas County?

Homeowners pay a median $729 a year, which is about 0.59% 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 Nicholas County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $774 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $33,157 a year.

More about Nicholas County

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