Rowan County
KY · Pop. 24,525 · Suburban County
Rowan County is a suburban county in Kentucky, spanning 280 square miles with 24,525 residents at a density of 87.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $156,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.55% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 194-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.4°F and average winter lows of 27.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. St Claire Regional Medical Center is 1.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 87.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 194-day growing season in USDA zone 6b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.55% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $156,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- St Claire Regional Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 1.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 45.6 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 24.5% 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
Rowan County, KY is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 88/100
- Median home price
- $156k
- Property tax
- 0.55%
- Growing season
- 194 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 45.6"
- Broadband
- 87.8%
- Nearest hospital
- St Claire Regional Medical Center, 1.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Rowan County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Rowan County?
- Rowan County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 194-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.4°F, and average winter lows of 27.3°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $156,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.55%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 87.8% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- St Claire Regional Medical Center is 1.8 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.
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