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Buying a home in Spencer County, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Spencer County is worth about $330,000, 61% above the Kentucky median of $205,600 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,188 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 $102,618 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 88% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 73% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Spencer County at a glance

Spencer County Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $330,000 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,188 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.66% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $102,618 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 88% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 73% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,795 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.4% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $987 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.8% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 2000 1982 1980
Vacant homes 5.2% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 20,193 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Spencer County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Spencer County home of $330,000 with 20% down costs about $2,095 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,645, 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 $89,783 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Spencer County household income of $102,618; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $377,000.

The median rent here is $987 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,108 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$66,000
Loan amount$264,000
Principal and interest$1,776
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$182
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$138
PMI$0
Total per month$2,095

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$11,550
Loan amount$324,023
Principal and interest$2,180
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$182
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$138
FHA mortgage insurance$146
Total per month$2,645

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Questions about home buying in Spencer County

What is the median home value in Spencer County?

About $330,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Spencer County?

Homeowners pay a median $2,188 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 Spencer County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,095 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $89,783 a year.

More about Spencer 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