Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Kentucky instead of North Carolina, you would:
Health
live 2.6 years less
In North Carolina, the average life expectancy is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In Kentucky, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020.
be 13.7% more likely to be obese
In North Carolina, 33.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Kentucky, that number is 38.2% of people as of 2022.
be 11.2% more likely to have diabetes
In North Carolina, 10.7% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Kentucky, that number is 11.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 15.5% less money
North Carolina has a GDP per capita of $59,308 as of 2024, while in Kentucky, the GDP per capita is $50,135 as of 2024.
be 27.3% more likely to live below the poverty line
In North Carolina, 12.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Kentucky, however, that number is 15.4% as of 2023.
Safety
be 41.8% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
North Carolina has a violent crime rate of 379 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 220 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 23.7% less likely to be a victim of property crime
North Carolina has a property crime rate of 1,998 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 1,525 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 25.9% less for a home
The median home value in North Carolina is $259,400 as of 2023, compared to $192,300 in Kentucky as of 2023.
pay 19.7% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in North Carolina is $1,162 as of 2023, while in Kentucky, it is $933 as of 2023.
earn 10.7% less money
The median household income in North Carolina is $69,904 as of 2023, while in Kentucky, it is $62,417 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 40.6% less likely to be uninsured
In North Carolina, 9.6% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 5.7% as of 2023.
live in an area that is 48.7% less densely populated
North Carolina has a population density of 86.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 44.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 28.1% more likely to smoke
In North Carolina, 14.6% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Kentucky, that number is 18.7% as of 2022.
be 16.2% more likely to be physically inactive
In North Carolina, 22.2% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Kentucky, that number is 25.8% as of 2022.
be 20.0% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In North Carolina, 22.5% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 18.0% as of 2023.
be 47.9% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In North Carolina, 4.8% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 2.5% as of 2023.
be 12.5% more likely to be food insecure
In North Carolina, 11.2% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Kentucky, that number is 12.6% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
