Is Jefferson County, KY good for real estate investing?

Jefferson County has an investment score of 64/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #230 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Jefferson?

The rent-to-price ratio in Jefferson County is 6.24% annually, which ranks in the 58th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Jefferson?

The median home price in Jefferson County is $261,635. This ranks #570 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Jefferson?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Jefferson County would generate negative cash flow of $486/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Jefferson County

KentuckyPopulation: 779,232Louisville, KY Metro

/100

Buy

#230 of 1,000 counties

#64 in Kentucky (120 counties)

Market Snapshot

$261,635

Median Home Price

12% above national median

$1,361/mo

Median Rent

10% below national median

6.24%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 42% nationally

-$486

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$261,635

Down Payment (20%)$52,327

Loan Amount$209,308

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,361

Monthly P&I-$1,372

Est. Expenses (35%)-$476

Net Cash Flow-$486/mo

4.1%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.24%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.1% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

64/100

Cash Flow(30%)

62/100

Based on 6.24% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

75/100

Based on 2.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

71/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.9x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$486/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.1% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

779,232

Median Income

$66,296

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.9x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
ClarkKY	65	$256,898	$1,275	5.96%	Buy	View
HardinKY	65	$241,967	$1,369	6.79%	Buy	View
CurrentJeffersonKY	64	$261,635	$1,361	6.24%	Buy
WhitleyKY	64	$150,482	$846	6.74%	Buy	View
MontgomeryKY	63	$216,817	$994	5.50%	Buy	View
FayetteKY	63	$319,672	$1,613	6.05%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyJefferson offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Jefferson County in Kentucky scores 64/100, ranking #230 of 1,000 US counties (top 30%). The 6.24% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-486/mo

Cap Rate

4.1%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.7%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Jefferson?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$261,635

Down Payment (20%)$52,327

Loan Amount$209,308

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,361

Monthly P&I-$1,372

Est. Expenses (35%)-$476

Net Cash Flow-$486/mo

4.1%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.24%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.1% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

64/100

Cash Flow(30%)

62/100

Based on 6.24% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

75/100

Based on 2.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

71/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.9x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

ClarkKY

$256,898

$1,275

5.96%

Buy

View

HardinKY

$241,967

$1,369

6.79%

Buy

View

CurrentJeffersonKY

$261,635

$1,361

6.24%

Buy

WhitleyKY

$150,482

$846

6.74%

Buy

View

MontgomeryKY

$216,817

$994

5.50%

Buy

View

FayetteKY

$319,672

$1,613

6.05%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyJefferson offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-486/mo

Cap Rate

4.1%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.7%