What it's like to live in Georgetown
Georgetown is a small city in Kentucky with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Georgetown deals with cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Georgetown compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Georgetown
Based on Georgetown's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,510
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,200 a year
- 39% of Georgetown renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$53,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,540
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,255/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,255 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $265,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $265,400 · 39% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 50% below US
165 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1057/100k · Georgetown Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Camp Nelson National Monument (30 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Georgetown's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,255/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Georgetown
All Kentucky guides →Moving to Lexington-Fayette →
14 mi away · pop. 323,725
Rent $1,164/mo · Income $69,479
Compare with Georgetown →Moving to Versailles →
16 mi away · pop. 10,492
Rent $1,160/mo · Income $62,368
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