RANK #444 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 19 KY · POP 139,841
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Boone County, Kentucky, is home to Rabbit Hash, a small Ohio River community notable for its historic general store and a tradition of electing canine mayors. Located in northern Kentucky, the county sits on the Ohio River and is part of the larger Cincinnati metropolitan area. Burlington serves as the county seat. Commuting to Cincinnati is common, with options including personal vehicles and the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) bus service, which offers park-and-ride locations. The community offers a blend of suburban and rural living, with access to outdoor recreation like the Boone County Arboretum, the nation's first arboretum within an active recreation park setting. Big Bone Lick State Park, known as the "birthplace of American paleontology," also provides natural scenery and historical interest.
Life in Boone County often appeals to families and young professionals, many of whom commute to nearby Cincinnati. The public school system is highly rated, with numerous elementary, middle, and high schools serving the area. The economy is experiencing growth, particularly in logistics and transportation, driven in part by the expansion of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport into a major cargo hub. This has led to ongoing commercial and residential development, with new housing construction targeting various income levels. The county is projected to see continued population growth and job creation in the coming decades.
Boone County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.6% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.1x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Boone County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Union Residential Development (882 units)
Fischer Homes / Grand Communities LLC
|
$200M | Proposed |
|
Amazon Last-Mile Delivery Station
Amazon
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Boone County scores 55/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#444). Median household income is $99,414 and job growth is running at +2.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Boone County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $277,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,373/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Boone County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.5% clip. Home values shifted +2.6% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.33% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Boone County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.