Best Affordable Place in Kentucky: Franklin County

Population: 49,004
Median family income: $62,730
Households spending more than 30 percent income on housing: 22.8 percent
Unemployment: 10.1 percent
Adult population with bachelor's degrees: 27.3 percent
Major city: Frankfort

Franklin County contains Frankfort, the state capital and home to Kentucky State University. The area has acres of bluegrass, farmland, distilleries, museums, and a variety of festivals, celebrations, and special events, according to the county website. U.S. Census data show that the county's main employers are government and health care.