Johnson County
KY · Pop. 22,464 · Suburban County
Johnson County is a suburban county in Kentucky, spanning 262 square miles with 22,464 residents at a density of 85.7 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $125,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.64%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 187-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.2°F and average winter lows of 25.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.3 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Paul B Hall Regional Medical Center is 2.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 187-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.64% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $125,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Paul B Hall Regional Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 23.4% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Johnson County, KY is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 92/100
- Median home price
- $125k
- Property tax
- 0.64%
- Growing season
- 187 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 43.3"
- Broadband
- 99.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Paul B Hall Regional Medical Center, 2.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Johnson County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Johnson County?
- Johnson County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 187-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.2°F, and average winter lows of 25.2°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $125,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.64%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Paul B Hall Regional Medical Center is 2.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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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.