Bourbon County
KY · Pop. 20,174 · Suburban County
Bourbon County sits in Kentucky across 290 square miles, home to 20,174 people at 69.6 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, soybeans, haylage. The median home price is $212,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.74%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.8°F and average winter lows of 24.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.9 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Bourbon Community Hospital is 2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.74% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Bourbon Community Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 4% reflects a stable local job base.
- Annual rainfall of 47.9 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Flood risk is high, so low-lying parcels deserve careful evaluation before purchase.
At a glance
Bourbon County, KY is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 87/100
- Median home price
- $212k
- Property tax
- 0.74%
- Growing season
- 181 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.9"
- Broadband
- 92.7%
- Nearest hospital
- Bourbon Community Hospital, 2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Bourbon County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Bourbon County?
- Bourbon County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.8°F, and average winter lows of 24.4°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $212,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.74%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Bourbon Community Hospital is 2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Kentucky Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Kentucky
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The closest counties to Bourbon County by distance, including across state lines.
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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