2024 · Kentucky
Rental yield in Kentucky
In 2024, the typical rental in Kentucky produced a gross yield of 5.3% — $998/mo median rent against a $226K median home value, ranking 15th of 51 states.
5.3%
Gross rental yield
above the 4.9% U.S. median
$998/mo
Median gross rent
incl. utilities (ACS)
$226K
Median home value
owner-occupied (ACS)
Kentucky metros by yield
Metropolitan areas in Kentucky with at least 65,000 residents, ranked by gross rental yield.
| Metro | Gross yield | Median rent | Median value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 6.9% | $914/mo | $160K |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 5.7% | $823/mo | $175K |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 5.2% | $1,051/mo | $241K |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 5.2% | $1,260/mo | $292K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 5.1% | $1,140/mo | $266K |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 5.0% | $1,203/mo | $289K |
| Owensboro, KY | 4.9% | $853/mo | $208K |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 4.9% | $1,245/mo | $307K |
| Bowling Green, KY | 4.7% | $1,024/mo | $259K |
Frequently asked questions
What is the gross rental yield in Kentucky?
In 2024, Kentucky had a gross rental yield of 5.3% — $998/mo median gross rent against a $226K median home value. That ranks 15th of 51 states (1 = highest yield). Nationally the figure was 4.9%.
Which Kentucky metros have the best rental yield?
Among Kentucky metros covered by the data, gross yield was highest in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH (6.9%), Paducah, KY-IL (5.7%), and Elizabethtown, KY (5.2%).
Does this account for expenses or financing?
No. Gross yield is a top-line market screen — it excludes property taxes, insurance, vacancy, management, and financing. Use it to compare markets, then run a specific deal through a cap-rate or cash-flow calculator.
How investors finance deals in Kentucky
Yield shows where the numbers work; our Investor Financing Report for Kentucky shows the rate premium, denial rate, and DSCR lending investors face there.
Run a Kentucky deal
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Gross rental yield = (median gross rent × 12) ÷ median home value. A market screen, not a net return.