Nicholasville, KY vs Oak Ridge, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oak Ridge, TN has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% lower than Nicholasville, KY.

Nicholasville, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,180 / month
Oak Ridge, TN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,360 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Nicholasville, KY and Oak Ridge, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $136/month in Oak Ridge, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,367 in Oak Ridge, TN

Regional cost estimates: Nicholasville, KY uses Lexington, KY. Oak Ridge, TN uses Nashville, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 3.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$136
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Nicholasville, KY

Population:32K
Cost Index:
88.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$313K

Oak Ridge, TN

Population:33K
Cost Index:
85.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$315K

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Nicholasville, KY

The Bluegrass State

32K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Oak Ridge, TN

The Volunteer State

33K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 33K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Nicholasville, KY vs Oak Ridge, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Transportation
↓ 8.2%
Nicholasville, KY
$1,305
Oak Ridge, TN
$1,198
Difference
$107
less
Groceries
↓ 7.8%
Nicholasville, KY
$1,056
Oak Ridge, TN
$974
Difference
$81.92
less
Other
↑ 2.9%
Nicholasville, KY
$1,761
Oak Ridge, TN
$1,811
Difference
$50.20
more
Housing
↓ 1.5%
Nicholasville, KY
$2,259
Oak Ridge, TN
$2,225
Difference
$34.41
less
All Utilities
↑ 4.2%
Nicholasville, KY
$511
Oak Ridge, TN
$533
Difference
$21.39
more
Healthcare
↑ 2.6%
Nicholasville, KY
$607
Oak Ridge, TN
$623
Difference
$16.04
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$820
To$1,100
↑ $280
1 Bed
From$1,000
To$1,100
↑ $100
2 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,360
↑ $180
3 Bed
From$1,620
To$1,740
↑ $120
Nicholasville, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Oak Ridge, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,100/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Nicholasville, KY
$7,364
Monthly in Oak Ridge, TN
$136
Difference

Home Values

Nicholasville
Oak Ridge
$313K
Median Value
$315K
↑ +3.9%
YoY Change
↑ +2.2%
↑ +44%
5-Year Change
↑ +64.6%

Homes in Oak Ridge are 1% more expensive than Nicholasville

Calculate payment - NicholasvilleCalculate payment - Oak Ridge

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$625
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.0%
Rate difference

Nicholasville, KY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kentucky State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

Oak Ridge, TN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Tennessee State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Nicholasville, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Oak Ridge, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%
Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Nicholasville
Oak Ridge
41 Good
Air Quality
50 Good
79.2%
Good Air Days
51.6%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
97 High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🫨🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
42 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
42 days

Before moving from Nicholasville, KY to Oak Ridge, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oak Ridge, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Nicholasville, KY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Nicholasville to Oak Ridge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Oak Ridge, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nicholasville, KY vs Oak Ridge, TN

How do the cost estimates for Nicholasville, KY and Oak Ridge, TN compare?

Oak Ridge, TN has a modeled overall cost index 3.8% lower than Nicholasville, KY. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Nicholasville, KY, the model estimates $148,367 in Oak Ridge, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Nicholasville, KY and Oak Ridge, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,180/month in Nicholasville, KY and $1,360/month in Oak Ridge, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kentucky and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com

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