The hunt for budget-friendly homes in Kentucky reveals surprising opportunities. According to the Zillow Home Value Index, the Bluegrass State offers some remarkably budget-friendly communities, particularly in the eastern coal country region. The data reveals fascinating patterns of affordability across different counties, with many small towns maintaining home values under $62,000 – a fraction of the national average.
You’ll notice that Eastern Kentucky dominates the affordability landscape, with 23 of the 25 least expensive towns located in counties like Floyd, Pike, Letcher, and Harlan. What’s particularly interesting is the dramatic price growth many of these communities have experienced since 2020, with towns like Cumberland seeing nearly 77% appreciation in just five years. This suggests that while these areas remain extremely affordable, they’re also showing signs of increasing demand.
When you examine the data closely, you’ll find that affordability doesn’t necessarily indicate stagnation. Some of the least expensive communities show the most dramatic growth rates, with towns like Evarts experiencing over 80% appreciation since 2020. Conversely, a few towns like Coldiron, Blackey, and Eolia have actually seen modest price decreases in recent years, pointing to continuing economic challenges in certain pockets of the region.
1. Mouthcard
- 2025 Home Value: $61,861
- 2020 Home Value: $43,951
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 40.75%
Positioned at the very edge of Kentucky along the Tug Fork River in Pike County, Mouthcard tops our ranking as the most expensive among Kentucky’s 25 most affordable towns with home values at $61,861 in 2025. Your investment would have appreciated by an impressive 40.75% since 2020, one of the stronger growth rates among the top 25.
2. Phelps
- 2025 Home Value: $61,701
- 2020 Home Value: $47,869
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 28.89%
Located in Pike County near the Kentucky-Virginia-West Virginia tristate area, Phelps provides you with remarkable affordability at $61,701 in 2025. Your property would have appreciated by 28.89% since 2020, representing strong growth in Kentucky’s easternmost region. The community’s position along the Tug Fork River offers scenic beauty at prices that would be unthinkable in most areas of the country. When you choose Phelps, you’re investing in a market where housing costs a fraction of the national average while still experiencing meaningful equity growth.
3. Hi Hat
- 2025 Home Value: $60,983
- 2020 Home Value: $48,455
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 25.86%
Situated along Beaver Creek in Floyd County, Hi Hat offers you extremely affordable housing at $60,983 in 2025. Your investment would have appreciated by a healthy 25.86% since 2020, showing strong growth in this small Eastern Kentucky community. This former coal mining town provides authentic Appalachian living at prices that would be unimaginable in most states. Despite economic transitions following coal’s decline, Hi Hat’s housing market has demonstrated resilience with solid value growth, suggesting continued interest in this extremely affordable market.
4. Eolia
- 2025 Home Value: $60,922
- 2020 Home Value: $65,376
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: -6.81%
Located high in the mountains of Letcher County near the Virginia border, Eolia offers you remarkably affordable housing at $60,922 in 2025. Your property would have experienced a 6.81% decrease since 2020, making it one of just three communities in the top 25 to see recent depreciation. The town’s proximity to Kentucky’s highest peak, Black Mountain, provides spectacular natural beauty that would command premium prices in most regions.
5. Regina
- 2025 Home Value: $60,773
- 2020 Home Value: $57,496
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 5.70%
Nestled in the hills of Pike County near the Virginia border, Regina provides you with remarkably affordable housing at $60,773 in 2025. Your investment would have grown by a modest 5.70% since 2020, representing slower but still positive appreciation. This small community offers authentic Appalachian living at prices that remain a fraction of the national average.
6. Beaver
- 2025 Home Value: $60,579
- 2020 Home Value: $60,491
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 0.15%
Situated in Floyd County’s eastern region, Beaver offers you extremely affordable housing at $60,579 in 2025. Your property would have appreciated by just 0.15% since 2020, representing the second slowest growth rate among Kentucky’s 25 least expensive communities. This price stability might appeal if you’re seeking predictable housing costs in an extremely affordable market. The small community provides authentic Appalachian living at prices that would be impossible to find in most states. When you choose Beaver, you’re investing in a market where housing costs have remained remarkably stable over recent years, potentially offering a more predictable investment compared to the volatile growth seen in many neighboring communities.
7. Hickman
- 2025 Home Value: $59,832
- 2020 Home Value: $43,945
- 2015 Home Value: $39,079
- 2010 Home Value: $39,970
- % Change 2010-2025: 49.69%
- % Change 2015-2025: 53.10%
- % Change 2020-2025: 36.15%
Located in Kentucky’s westernmost county of Fulton along the Mississippi River, Hickman is one of only two towns on this list outside Eastern Kentucky. Your home value of $59,832 in 2025 comes with the most complete historical data of any community in our top 25, showing impressive 49.69% growth since 2010 and accelerating to 53.10% over the past decade.
8. Garrett
- 2025 Home Value: $59,703
- 2020 Home Value: $45,969
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 29.88%
Situated along the banks of Beaver Creek in Floyd County, Garrett offers you remarkably affordable housing at $59,703 in 2025. Your property would have appreciated by a healthy 29.88% since 2020, representing strong growth in this small Eastern Kentucky community. The appreciation trend suggests continued interest in this market where affordability meets solid investment potential.
9. Weeksbury
- 2025 Home Value: $58,110
- 2020 Home Value: $49,426
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 17.57%
Nestled in the hills of Floyd County, Weeksbury provides you with remarkably affordable housing at $58,110 in 2025. Your investment would have grown by 17.57% since 2020, showing healthy appreciation in this small Eastern Kentucky community. Despite the economic transitions following the decline of the coal industry, Weeksbury’s housing market has demonstrated resilience with steady value growth, suggesting that buyers continue to find value in this extremely affordable market.
10. Majestic
- 2025 Home Value: $57,748
- 2020 Home Value: $50,978
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 13.28%
Positioned in Pike County near the Kentucky-Virginia border, Majestic lives up to its name with beautiful mountain scenery combined with extremely affordable housing at $57,748 in 2025. Your property would have appreciated by a modest 13.28% since 2020, representing slower but still positive growth. The community’s remote location offers authentic Appalachian living at prices that would be unthinkable in most regions.
11. Blackey
- 2025 Home Value: $57,348
- 2020 Home Value: $59,746
- 2015 Home Value: $51,872
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2015-2025: 10.56%
- % Change 2020-2025: -4.01%
Located along the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Letcher County, Blackey offers you extremely affordable housing at $57,348 in 2025. Unlike most communities on this list, Blackey shows historical data back to 2015, revealing 10.56% growth over the decade but a recent 4.01% decrease since 2020. This makes it one of just three towns among the 25 least expensive to experience recent depreciation.
12. Evarts
- 2025 Home Value: $57,274
- 2020 Home Value: $31,735
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 80.47%
Positioned in Harlan County’s historic coal country, Evarts boasts not only extremely affordable housing at $57,274 in 2025 but also the highest appreciation rate on our entire list at 80.47% since 2020. Your investment would have nearly doubled in value over just five years, representing extraordinary growth despite the community’s economic challenges. Evarts demonstrates that Kentucky’s most affordable markets can also offer remarkable investment potential, with growth rates that outpace many far more expensive housing markets across the country.
13. Holmes Mill
- 2025 Home Value: $56,838
- 2020 Home Value: $44,940
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 26.48%
Tucked away in Harlan County near the Virginia border, Holmes Mill gives you access to remarkably affordable housing at $56,838 in 2025. Your property would have appreciated by a healthy 26.48% since 2020, showing solid growth in this small Eastern Kentucky community. The appreciation trend suggests continued discovery of this hidden gem by those seeking extreme affordability.
14. Printer
- 2025 Home Value: $55,955
- 2020 Home Value: $46,436
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 20.50%
Situated in Floyd County’s rolling hills, Printer offers you exceptionally affordable housing at $55,955 in 2025. Your investment would have grown by 20.50% since 2020, representing healthy appreciation in this small Eastern Kentucky community. Despite economic challenges following coal’s decline, Printer’s housing market has shown resilience with solid value growth.
15. Pathfork
- 2025 Home Value: $55,434
- 2020 Home Value: $50,212
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 10.40%
Nestled in Bell County within the Middlesborough metropolitan area, Pathfork provides you with highly affordable housing at $55,434 in 2025. Your property would have appreciated by a modest 10.40% since 2020, one of the more conservative growth rates among Kentucky’s least expensive communities. When you choose Pathfork, you’re investing in a market that balances remarkably low entry costs with the potential stability that comes from connection to a larger economic region, albeit with somewhat slower appreciation than many isolated Eastern Kentucky communities.
16. Wheelwright
- 2025 Home Value: $54,283
- 2020 Home Value: $32,816
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 65.42%
Located in the heart of Floyd County’s coal country, Wheelwright offers you remarkably affordable housing at $54,283 in 2025. Your investment would have appreciated by an impressive 65.42% since 2020, representing one of the strongest growth rates among Kentucky’s most affordable communities.
17. Coldiron
- 2025 Home Value: $54,196
- 2020 Home Value: $69,788
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: -22.34%
Situated in Bell County within the Middlesborough metropolitan area, Coldiron represents an anomaly among Kentucky’s least expensive communities. With home values at $54,196 in 2025, you’ll find extraordinary affordability, but the 22.34% price decrease since 2020 makes this the only town in the top 10 to experience significant depreciation. This price correction may present a unique buying opportunity if you’re seeking absolute bottom-dollar pricing.
18. Jenkins
- 2025 Home Value: $52,544
- 2020 Home Value: $38,654
- 2015 Home Value: $32,578
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2015-2025: 61.28%
- % Change 2020-2025: 35.93%
Established in Letcher County as a coal company town, Jenkins provides you with exceptional affordability at $52,544 in 2025. Unlike many communities on this list, Jenkins offers historical data going back to 2015, showing impressive 61.28% growth over the past decade. Your investment would have appreciated by 35.93% just since 2020, demonstrating consistent long-term growth.
19. Cumberland
- 2025 Home Value: $52,155
- 2020 Home Value: $29,473
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 76.96%
Nestled in Harlan County’s mountainous landscape, Cumberland boasts not only extremely affordable housing at $52,155 in 2025 but also the second highest appreciation rate on our list at 76.96% since 2020. Your investment in this historic coal mining town would have nearly doubled in just five years, showing remarkable growth despite economic challenges following the coal industry’s decline.
20. McRoberts
- 2025 Home Value: $51,627
- 2020 Home Value: $32,416
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 59.26%
Positioned in the mountainous terrain of Letcher County, McRoberts gives you access to extraordinarily affordable housing at $51,627 in 2025. Your potential property would have appreciated by a remarkable 59.26% since 2020 – the third highest growth rate among the 25 least expensive towns. This former coal company town offers authentic Appalachian living at prices that would be impossible to find in most states. The impressive appreciation rate signals increasing demand despite the community’s remote location, suggesting that affordable housing seekers are discovering value in Eastern Kentucky’s hidden communities.
21. Earlington
- 2025 Home Value: $51,055
- 2020 Home Value: $50,282
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 1.54%
Located in Hopkins County in Western Kentucky, Earlington stands out as one of just two towns on this list outside Eastern Kentucky. With home values at $51,055 in 2025, you benefit from exceptional affordability, though the modest 1.54% appreciation since 2020 represents the lowest growth rate among the top 25. The town’s inclusion in the Madisonville metropolitan area offers you more employment opportunities than many isolated eastern communities. Your housing dollar stretches remarkably far in this former coal mining town that now serves as a bedroom community for nearby Madisonville, providing affordable living with access to more diverse economic opportunities.
22. Fedscreek
- 2025 Home Value: $50,970
- 2020 Home Value: $34,612
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 47.26%
Situated in Pike County near the Virginia border, Fedscreek presents you with exceptional housing affordability at $50,970 in 2025. Your investment would have grown by an impressive 47.26% since 2020, representing one of the strongest appreciation rates among Kentucky’s least expensive communities. This small Appalachian town offers authentic mountain living at prices that would be unimaginable in most parts of the country. The robust price growth suggests increasing demand for property in this remote community, possibly driven by those seeking extreme affordability combined with Kentucky’s natural beauty.
23. Wayland
- 2025 Home Value: $50,575
- 2020 Home Value: $34,778
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 45.42%
Tucked away in Floyd County’s eastern hills, Wayland offers you remarkably affordable housing with a typical value of $50,575 in 2025. What makes this former coal mining town particularly notable is its impressive 45.42% price growth since 2020 – one of the strongest appreciation rates among Kentucky’s most affordable communities.
24. Stopover
- 2025 Home Value: $48,745
- 2020 Home Value: $38,442
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 26.80%
Located in Pike County along the Kentucky-Virginia border, Stopover provides you with extraordinarily affordable housing at $48,745 in 2025. Your potential investment here would have appreciated by 26.80% since 2020, showing stronger growth than the state’s least expensive town. While historical data before 2020 isn’t available for this tiny hamlet, the recent growth trajectory suggests increasing interest in this extremely affordable housing market.
25. Fleming-Neon
- 2025 Home Value: $47,065
- 2020 Home Value: $40,802
- 2015 Home Value: Not Available
- 2010 Home Value: Not Available
- % Change 2020-2025: 15.35%
Nestled in the mountains of Letcher County in Eastern Kentucky, Fleming-Neon offers you the most affordable housing in the entire state with a typical home value of just $47,065 in 2025. Since 2020, you’ve seen property values grow by a modest 15.35%, which while lower than many other communities on this list, still represents solid appreciation for homeowners.
