NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Kentucky: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 30.3 (Moderate), ranked #11 of 51 states. 5,708 establishments, 22,254 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 30.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

🛡️Stable Market

Kentucky exhibits structural stability in real estate and rental and leasing, with volatility at 26.4 and firm retention ranking in the top 10. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
86.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #8 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
34.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #25 of 51 states
Establishment Density
23.0
vs. national average
Rank #21 of 51 states
Market Volatility
26.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
39.0
Labor cost pressure

5,708 Establishments in Kentucky

5,708
Establishments
+3.2% YoY
22,254
Total Employment
+1.1% YoY
$57,874
Average Annual Wage
+3.1% YoY

Kentucky vs National Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Average

How Kentucky's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric KY National Difference
Entry Risk Score 30.3 40.5 -10.2
5-Year Retention 86.3% 51.0% +35.3
Growth Momentum 34.5 39.4 -4.9
Market Volatility 26.4 22.1 +4.3
Establishment Density 23.0 34.1 -11.1
Wage Pressure 39.0 45.1 -6.1

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within real estate and rental and leasing only.

Kentucky Ranks #11 of 51 for Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Kentucky ranks #11 out of 51 states for real estate and rental and leasing market entry conditions.

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Pennsylvania 24.5 low
#2 Wisconsin 26.0 low
#3 Nebraska 26.3 low
#4 South Dakota 26.4 low
#5 Massachusetts 27.7 low
#11 Kentucky You 30.3 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 34.9 · #15 Alabama — 31.9 · #13 Arkansas — 30.5 · #12 Arizona — 52.4 · #46 California — 47.1 · #39 Colorado — 52.1 · #44 Connecticut — 45.9 · #37 District of Columbia — 38.5 · #24 Delaware — 53.2 · #47 Florida — 54.7 · #49 Georgia — 51.6 · #43 Hawaii — 60.3 · #50 Iowa — 35.6 · #16 Idaho — 43.4 · #32 Illinois — 44.3 · #33 Indiana — 30.2 · #10 Kansas — 41.4 · #29 Kentucky — 30.3 · #11 Louisiana — 44.5 · #34 Massachusetts — 27.7 · #5 Maryland — 50.4 · #42 Maine — 28.3 · #6 Michigan — 39.3 · #26 Minnesota — 42.1 · #31 Missouri — 39.2 · #25 Mississippi — 30.0 · #8 Montana — 37.5 · #20 North Carolina — 38.1 · #23 North Dakota — 54.3 · #48 Nebraska — 26.3 · #3 New Hampshire — 29.6 · #7 New Jersey — 37.3 · #19 New Mexico — 52.3 · #45 Nevada — 61.9 · #51 New York — 37.6 · #21 Ohio — 33.2 · #14 Oklahoma — 42.0 · #30 Oregon — 44.8 · #35 Pennsylvania — 24.5 · #1 Rhode Island — 37.8 · #22 South Carolina — 44.9 · #36 South Dakota — 26.4 · #4 Tennessee — 37.2 · #18 Texas — 41.4 · #28 Utah — 46.6 · #38 Virginia — 35.6 · #17 Vermont — 30.1 · #9 Washington — 48.0 · #40 Wisconsin — 26.0 · #2 West Virginia — 40.6 · #27 Wyoming — 49.6 · #41
Low Moderate Elevated High

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About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Kentucky stack up against other states for real estate and rental and leasing?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Neighboring States

How Kentucky's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to bordering states.

Indiana 30.2 #10/51 Ohio 33.2 #14/51 Virginia 35.6 #17/51 Tennessee 37.2 #18/51 Missouri 39.2 #25/51 West Virginia 40.6 #27/51 Illinois 44.3 #33/51

Other Industries in Kentucky

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →