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Overall Rating: 72/100 · 295,000 veterans (6.7% of population)
Benefit details verified January 2025. Tax exemptions, caps, and eligibility change and can vary by county — always confirm current figures with your county assessor and your Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
Partial exemption up to $31,110 (full exemption if retired before 1998)
1.1% average effective rate
$49,100 of value
100% P&T / totally disabled qualifies for the general homestead exemption ($49,100, 2025–26). No veteran tiered exemption (HB639 did not pass).
Source ↗No specific sales tax exemptions for veterans
$16,600
VA Medical Center
800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 287-4000
Primary care, mental health, PTSD treatment, surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurology, women's health, rehabilitation, prosthetics, pharmacy, emergency care 24/7
State Tuition Waiver
Children, stepchildren, adopted children, spouses, and unremarried widows/widowers of veterans with service-connected disability (any percentage), veterans who died from service-connected causes, or POWs
4-year value: $52,000
Median Home
$291,000
1BR Rent
$750/mo
COL Index
94.1
Unemployment
4.2%
Major employers: UPS Worldport (20,000+), Humana (13,000+), Ford Kentucky Truck Plant (8,000+), Norton Healthcare (17,000+), GE Aviation, Louisville VA Medical Center
Pros: Full VA medical center with emergency care, strong job market, affordable housing for major metro, bourbon culture, international airport, tax-free military retirement up to $31,110
Cons: Partial military retirement exemption only, hot humid summers, modest property tax exemption ($589/year), some neighborhoods have higher crime
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Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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