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Living in
Frankfort.
About
Life in Frankfort
Living in Frankfort means settling into a genuine capital city that's small enough to feel manageable but organized enough to have real amenities. The job market is stable thanks to government work, though you'll want to explore what's available in your field before committing—public administration dominates, but there's manufacturing and other opportunities mixed in. Housing is reasonably affordable compared to many mid-sized cities, with median home prices around $183,700 and rent averaging $935 monthly, plus an unemployment rate of 4.3% that's competitive.
Frankfort at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Foreign-Born
5.7%
Broadband Internet
83.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Frankfort: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Frankfort, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.6%), and 4.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.0%
of households
Married Couples
30.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.11
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 Frankfort
In Frankfort, home values are 11% below the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,571
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $249,495 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Frankfort
Unemployment in Frankfort is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Frankfort Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17 min avg
How Frankfort residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Frankfort, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
Small hub796k passengers boarded in 2025
- 60 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 28% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Frankfort runs 28% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
237.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,600.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Frankfort Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
64.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Franklin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Franklin County, which includes Frankfort, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,000 |
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
Franklin County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fayette County, KY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Frankfort) is typically good — 273 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
273
per year
Moderate Days
91
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Fayette County, KY (24 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Frankfort has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
14.5"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
98
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 3.27" |
| Feb | 48°F | 28°F | 3.40" |
| Mar | 57°F | 35°F | 4.72" |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 4.55" |
| May | 77°F | 54°F | 5.10" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 4.34" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.69" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 3.15" |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 3.35" |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 3.64" |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.36" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 3.77" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Frankfort
Frankfort has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Frankfort Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bluegrass Community Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · Versailles
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Frankfort
Frankfort's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Frankfort
Public · 4-year · 1,309 students · in-state tuition $9,807 · 38% graduate · median earnings $42,650 (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: Camp Nelson National Monument, 31 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Frankfort
Frankfort has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Camp Nelson National Monument (31 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
31 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
67 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
78 mi awayMammoth Cave National Park
National Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Frankfort
Paul Sawyier Public Library
319 Wapping Street, Frankfort
Cities Near Frankfort
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Frankfort?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Frankfort FAQ
Is Frankfort, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Frankfort's median rent is $944/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,073/year. Median home value is $183,700.
Is Frankfort, Kentucky safe?⌄
Frankfort's violent crime rate was 238 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1601 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Frankfort, Kentucky?⌄
Frankfort has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Frankfort, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Frankfort is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $944/month and median household income is $53,073/year. The median home value is $183,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Frankfort, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Frankfort is 17 minutes, which is shorter than 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