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Living in
Covington.
About
Life in Covington
Covington works best if you want proximity to Cincinnati without paying Cincinnati prices—you're looking at a median home value around $187,000 and median rent near $1,010, genuinely affordable for the region. The job market is stable with a 4.3% unemployment rate, and there's real economic momentum with biotech and life sciences growing through the new OneNKY Center. Winters are cool and summers hot and humid thanks to the climate transition zone between continental and subtropical regions—you'll see magnolias and blue spruces thriving side by side.
Covington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.8%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
86.9%
of households
Population Growth
+2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Covington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Covington, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (52.1%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.8%
of households
Married Couples
29.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for KY
Rent, home values, and income in Covington
In Covington, home values are 9% below the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,085
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $217,214 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below KY average
Unemployment in Covington
Unemployment in Covington is 0.4 percentage points lower than the KY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Covington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.8 min avg
How Covington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Covington, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Covington runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
289.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,400.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Covington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kenton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kenton County, which includes Covington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $34,200 |
| 2024 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9,100 |
| 2023 | 5 | Winter Storm | $31,000 |
| 2022 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,200 |
| 2021 | 10 | Winter Weather | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $90,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $117,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kenton County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Campbell County, KY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 9 miles from Covington) is typically good — 276 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
276
per year
Moderate Days
85
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Campbell County, KY (9 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Covington has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.4"
Annual Snowfall
23.3"
Hot Days/Year
27
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 2.86" |
| Feb | 45°F | 26°F | 2.79" |
| Mar | 55°F | 33°F | 3.94" |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 4.37" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.70" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.61" |
| Jul | 87°F | 65°F | 4.39" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.39" |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 3.07" |
| Oct | 68°F | 44°F | 3.05" |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 2.91" |
| Dec | 45°F | 28°F | 3.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Covington
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Covington's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Elizabeth Edgewood
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Edgewood
St Elizabeth Ft Thomas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Fort Thomas
Sun Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 4.3 mi away · Erlanger
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Covington
Covington's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Covington (within 15 miles)
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
6.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 29,882 students · in-state tuition $14,394 · 73% graduate · median earnings $60,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $52,680 · 71% graduate · median earnings $69,118 (10 yrs after entry)
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
6.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 713 students · in-state tuition $17,318 · 64% graduate · median earnings $73,495 (10 yrs after entry)
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
7.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 690 students · in-state tuition $15,356 · 77% graduate · median earnings $72,043 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 536 students · in-state tuition $13,295 · 49% graduate · median earnings $42,712 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 281 students · in-state tuition $7,700 · 40% graduate · median earnings $37,329 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Covington
Covington has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
57 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayCamp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayCities Near Covington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Covington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Covington FAQ
Is Covington, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Covington's median rent is $1,006/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,166/year. Median home value is $187,300.
Is Covington, Kentucky safe?⌄
Covington's violent crime rate was 290 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1400 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Covington, Kentucky?⌄
Covington has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Covington, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Covington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,006/month and median household income is $61,166/year. The median home value is $187,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Covington, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Covington is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from