RANK #320 / 1001 NAT · #3 / 19 KY · POP 65,897
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Pulaski County, Kentucky, is defined by Lake Cumberland, often called the "Houseboat Capital of the World" and a major draw for tourism. Located in south-central Kentucky, with Somerset as its county seat, Pulaski County is about 76 miles south of Lexington. The community maintains a small-town feel despite its size as Kentucky's third-largest county by area. Commutes are generally smooth, with U.S. Highway 27 running north-south and Highway 80 east-west, intersecting in Somerset. Beyond boating and fishing on Lake Cumberland, outdoor recreation includes extensive hiking and mountain biking trails at Pulaski County Park, which also offers camping and disc golf.
Life in Pulaski County offers an affordable cost of living compared to national averages, with many residents owning their homes. The public school systems, including Pulaski County Public Schools and Somerset Independent Schools, are highly rated and provide varied educational opportunities. The local economy is supported by agriculture, manufacturing, and a significant tourism sector driven by Lake Cumberland. Recent economic developments have seen investments in data centers, energy, and infrastructure, contributing to job growth and a stable market.
Pulaski County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -1.2% YoY, population +0.6%, wages +2.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.3x — home prices are high 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 Pulaski County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cooper Station Natural Gas Unit Expansion
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC)
|
$745M | Planned |
|
Pulaski Solar Facility (405 MW)
Vistra
|
$650M | Under Construction |
|
Mammoth Central Solar (600 MW)
Doral Renewables LLC
|
$600M | Planned |
|
KY 461 Interchange Improvement and Road Widening
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (Federal BUILD grants)
|
$84M | Completed |
|
SPEDA Commerce Park Development
Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, Pulaski County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.0%, and median household income stands at $51,898 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in KY.
Housing in Pulaski County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $166,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $803/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Pulaski County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.0% clip. Home values shifted -1.2% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.48% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Pulaski County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.