Garrard County
KY · Pop. 17,346 · Suburban County
Garrard County is a suburban county in Kentucky, spanning 230 square miles with 17,346 residents at a density of 75.4 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $187,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.72% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.6°F and average winter lows of 28.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 46.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Ephraim Mcdowell Fort Logan Hospital is 8.4 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 69.9% 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 0.72% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $187,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Annual rainfall of 46.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Broadband reaches only 69.9% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- The nearest hospital, Ephraim Mcdowell Fort Logan Hospital, is 8.4 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- Flood risk is high, so low-lying parcels deserve careful evaluation before purchase.
At a glance
Garrard County, KY is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 60/100
- Median home price
- $187k
- Property tax
- 0.72%
- Growing season
- 181 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 46.5"
- Broadband
- 69.9%
- Nearest hospital
- Ephraim Mcdowell Fort Logan Hospital, 8.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Garrard County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Garrard County?
- Garrard County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.6°F, and average winter lows of 28.3°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $187,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.72%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 69.9% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Ephraim Mcdowell Fort Logan Hospital is 8.4 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
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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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