Cost to Own
United States › Kentucky › Nelson County › Bardstown Population 13,673 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $611 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Nelson County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Bardstown, Kentucky

A $191,000 home here costs

$1,652

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $71,000 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 8%Insurance 6%Utilities 13%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,041. The real number is $611 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Nelson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Bardstown median: $190,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
KY average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $152,800 borrowed $1,041
Property tax0.871% effective rate for Bardstown itself $139
Homeowners insuranceKentucky averages $1,232/yr (NAIC), or 0.631% of home value $100
Electricity13.8ยข/kWh, Kentucky residential average, EIA $144
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $159
Total monthly $1,652

Bardstown against Nelson County and Kentucky

MeasureBardstownNelson County
Median home value$190,800$224,100
Median property tax$1,662$1,782
Effective tax rate0.871%0.795%
Median gross rent$917$932
Population13,67347,102

The weather behind that power bill

Bardstown sits in Nelson County, which averages a high of 86.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 26.1°F in its coldest, with 51.61" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,273 cooling and 4,235 heating degree days, which is what sets the $144 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Nelson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Nelson County

Full Nelson County cost breakdown · Every county in Kentucky

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Bardstown averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Bardstown every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Bardstown I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Bardstown?

A $191,000 home in Bardstown, Kentucky costs approximately $1,652 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,041 principal and interest, $139 property tax, $100 homeowners insurance, $212 utilities and $159 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Bardstown?

Bardstown has an effective property tax rate of 0.871%, based on a median home value of $190,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,662. That is higher than the Nelson County average of 0.795%.

What is the average home price in Bardstown?

The median owner-occupied home value in Bardstown, Kentucky is $190,800, against $224,100 across Nelson County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bardstown?

Median gross rent in Bardstown is $917 a month, against $1,652 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Bardstown?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Bardstown, Kentucky at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $71,000 a year. That covers the full $1,652 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Bardstown, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kentucky.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology