Graves County
KY · Pop. 36,612 · Suburban County
Graves County sits in Kentucky across 552 square miles, home to 36,612 people at 66.3 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. The median home price is $139,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.67%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 214-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.9°F and average winter lows of 30.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 52.2 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Jackson Purchase Medical Center is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 214-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.67% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $139,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 98.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Jackson Purchase Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A poverty rate of 20.5% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Graves County, KY is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 83/100
- Median home price
- $139k
- Property tax
- 0.67%
- Growing season
- 214 days (zone 7b)
- Annual rainfall
- 52.2"
- Broadband
- 98.5%
- Nearest hospital
- Jackson Purchase Medical Center, 2.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Graves County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Graves County?
- Graves County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 214-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.9°F, and average winter lows of 30.5°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $139,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.67%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Jackson Purchase Medical Center is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Kentucky Resources
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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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