Ballard County
KY · Pop. 7,678 · Suburban County
Ballard County is a suburban county in Kentucky, spanning 247 square miles with 7,678 residents at a density of 31.1 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. A median home price of $133,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.8% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 211-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.8°F and average winter lows of 27.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 48.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Massac Memorial Hospital is 16.9 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 211-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.8% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $133,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- The nearest hospital, Massac Memorial Hospital, is 16.9 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Ballard County, KY is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 81/100
- Median home price
- $133k
- Property tax
- 0.8%
- Growing season
- 211 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 48.6"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Massac Memorial Hospital, 16.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Ballard County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Ballard County?
- Ballard County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 211-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.8°F, and average winter lows of 27.7°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $133,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.8%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Massac Memorial Hospital is 16.9 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Kentucky Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Kentucky
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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