My Old Kentucky Home Mansion · Firthpond1700 / CC BY-SA 4.0Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral (Bardstown, Kentucky), exterior, view from the corner opposite the basilica · Nheyob / CC BY-SA 3.0
Bardstown is a small city of 13,564 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $47,654
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bardstown stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bardstown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bardstown city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.5
Bardstown's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bardstown costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bardstown, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$173,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$850
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,654
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bardstown's violent crime rate is 165.3 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
165.3 /100k
Property Crime
1394.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bardstown is served primarily by Nelson County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Bardstown, KY
National Avg
School District
Nelson County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bardstown sees average highs of 43.3°F in January
and 86.6°F in July,
with 51.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 11.9 inches of snow per year.
Bardstown's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bardstown roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $173,300 and median rent is $850/month.
Bardstown's violent crime rate is 165.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1394.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Bardstown are operated by Nelson County.
The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bardstown, KY has a population of 13,564, a median household income of $47,654, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bardstown averages 43.3°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.6 inches
with about 11.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bardstown, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 40004.
The population of Bardstown, Kentucky is 13,564 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bardstown: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $173,300, median household income $47,654, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bardstown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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