City Profile

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Elizabethtown, commonly known as E-Town, is a vibrant city located in Hardin County, Kentucky, offering a blend of rich history and modern suburban growth. Founded in the late 18th century and named after the wife of its founder, the city has evolved into a key economic and cultural hub in the central part of the state. Today, residents enjoy a welcoming community atmosphere, historic downtown squares, and convenient proximity to Fort Knox, making it a popular choice for families and military personnel alike.

About Kentucky

Kentucky, known as the Bluegrass State, offers a blend of Southern charm and Midwestern practicality with a rich heritage rooted in horse racing, bourbon, and bluegrass music. The economy is diverse, with manufacturing (especially automotive), healthcare, and agriculture (including horses, cattle, corn, and tobacco) being major industries. Living in Kentucky is generally affordable, with the cost of living estimated to be 10-12% lower than the national average, particularly for housing. The state experiences a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, featuring warm, humid summers and moderately cold, rainy winters. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that balances urban amenities in cities like Louisville and Lexington with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities and a strong sense of community.

32,150

Population

$54K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

66.0

Quality Score

How this 66/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 74 / 100	74.0	30%	22.2
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 88.0	58.8	25%	14.7
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $61,500 Income needed to live here: $46,000 Unemployment rate: 4.2%	69.8	20%	14.0
Growth	Population growth rate: 1.1% Job growth rate: 1.9%	55.3	15%	8.3
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 69 / 100	69.0	10%	6.9
Overall score				66.0

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 3 (deep think) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Elizabethtown remains notably below the national average, making it an attractive destination for budget-conscious families and retirees. Housing expenses, utilities, and grocery prices all track lower than typical U.S. urban centers, allowing residents to stretch their earnings further. While certain specialized goods and services align with broader regional pricing, overall affordability is one of the city's primary economic advantages.

Average Rent

$1,150/mo

Groceries

$380/mo

Transport

$110/mo

Utilities

$165/mo

Healthcare

$210/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$40.00

Cinema ticket

$12.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$18.00

Monthly groceries

$380.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$120.00

Income

Salary Insights

Elizabethtown features a resilient and diversified job market anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, and retail sectors. Major local employers, including Baptist Health Hardin and various industrial manufacturers, provide stable employment opportunities for the region. Additionally, the city's strategic location along major transportation corridors supports a thriving logistics and warehousing footprint.

The average salary in Elizabethtown is $54,000 per year. You would need approximately $46,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.20% Manufacturing +1.50% Healthcare +2.60% Accommodation and Food Services +2.00% Transportation and Warehousing +2.40%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

60°F

Avg Temp

☀️

88°F

Summer High

❄️

29°F

Winter Low

🌧️

59.30"

Annual Rain

💧

68.00%

Humidity

🌤️

248

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation in Elizabethtown is heavily automobile-centric, with most residents relying on personal vehicles to commute and run daily errands. Major thoroughfares like Interstate 65 and Bluegrass Parkway provide efficient connections to Louisville and surrounding regions. Public transit options are limited, and walkability scores vary by neighborhood, though downtown areas offer more pedestrian-friendly zones.

22 min

Avg Commute

38.00/10

Transit Score

42.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Lower cost of living compared to the US national average

Proximity to Fort Knox supporting local employment and diverse community dynamics

Growing healthcare sector anchored by the expanded Baptist Health Hardin

Abundant outdoor recreation spaces like Freeman Lake Park and Nature Park

Convenient regional access via Interstate 65 with direct routes to Louisville

Drawbacks

High car dependency with limited public transportation infrastructure

Lower average salary benchmarks compared to major national metropolitan hubs

High annual rainfall totals averaging 59.3 inches per year

Limited nightlife and high-end entertainment options for younger demographics

Housing inventory can experience tightness during peak relocation seasons

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Elizabethtown VS Cincinnati Elizabethtown VS Binghamton Elizabethtown VS Hopkinsville Elizabethtown VS Tigard

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Nearby Cities

Hopkinsville

Madisonville

Henderson

Owensboro

Community Q&A

Questions about Elizabethtown

What people ask about living in and moving to Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

Elizabethtown, KY

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Elizabethtown, KY

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Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Happening in Elizabethtown

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Quality Scores

Cost of Living

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Top Industries

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Nearby Cities

Hopkinsville

Madisonville

Henderson

Owensboro

Questions about Elizabethtown

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Urblytica's Cost of Living Index calculated relative to the national baseline?

Where does Urblytica source its real estate and housing market data?

What criteria determine whether a city is eligible for a full Urblytica economic and lifestyle profile?

How are historical data revisions handled when federal or municipal agencies update past statistics?

How are U.S. federal income tax brackets and state income taxes integrated into Urblytica's U.S. affordability model?

What role do local property tax millage rates play in calculating U.S. cost-of-living scores?

How does Urblytica account for state-level sales tax and local excise tax variations across U.S. cities?

How are U.S. regional utility costs—such as electricity and natural gas—benchmarked across different climate zones?

Does Urblytica's U.S. cost-of-living index factor in employer-sponsored healthcare or out-of-pocket medical costs?

How does Urblytica measure U.S. school district performance and educational access?

Senior Care in Elizabethtown

RobinBrooke Senior Living

Tender Touch Heart & Home

Signature Healthcare Of Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown Nursing And Rehabilitation Center

Baptist Health Hardin

Kensington Center

Vitality Living Elizabethtown

Helmwood Senior Living

Helmwood Healthcare Center

Willow Creek Senior Living

Tender Touch Senior Living

Bluegrass Assisted Living

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