Mary

My 29 year-old daughter has been transferred to Georgetown Kentucky. She'll be making about $60,000 a year, loves horses and the outdoors, and is very excited. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Where to live?
How much can she expect to pay for 2 bedroom house or apartment?
Active volunteer organizations?
Best Catholic parish? (any Catholic parish?)
Thanks, her mom.

cameron

Dear Mom:
Data on Georgetown in particular is a little scarce, but the Lexington (close by) Chamber of Commerce site is useful. Cost of a 3BR2Bath home averages $125,289 there. I don't know Gtwn in particular, but Lexington is a growing, relatively vibrant area and there are some suburban areas which are more expensive than this, but not relative to the major metro areas in CA.
Overall cost of living index in Lxngtn is 96 (US average being 100).
I'm not ever lived anywhere near KY, but if I was still in her age group and not necessarily being asked to commit to a locale for, say 10-15 years, I'd be comfortable relocating there for a few years. If she's being transferred, I'm guessing it's a temporary (few years) proposition. Not a bad place to spend a few years. Good place to raise kids if that's a consideration.

Jackie

I am a lifelong resident of KY. I have always lived about 75 miles north of Georgetown. I have never heard anything bad about the town. It is very close to several larger, more notorious cities, Frankfort (our state capital), as I mentioned, Lexington, and Cincinnati Oh is within about and hours drive. Many smaller rural areas are delighful. I have never been to CA, but I bet your daughter is for some culture shock. We Kentuckians are pretty much laid back (not everyone is a hillbilly, though she'll certainly find her share of those)yet hip to a certain degree. Many of us, though lean to the conservation side of life. I hope she has a pleasant move and enjoys life in KY. It can be quite enjoyable. As for the money thing. The yearly salary you quoted should get her by quite nicely.
My guess on a two bedroom apt. would be roughly 400-500 dollars a month. To give you an idea of our economy, today I paid
$1.49 for a gallon of unleaded plus gasoline, milk is $2.99 a gallon, bread $1.49. The weather today is 24 degrees and snow with freezing rain. Bear in mind, I am about 75 miles north of Georgetown, I live in KY, but on the OH river across from downtown Cincinnati.
If she likes the outdoors, loves horses as you said, she is coming to the right state. I love it here, and couldn't imagine living any place else. I have the joy of big city life, Bengals, Reds, Mighty Ducks Hockey, all the big name concerts come through here and yet the serene country life is within an hours (or less) drive. Am I already in Heaven? I hope she enjoys it as much as I do.

Roy

Kentucky???
That's like being buried alive. There probably ain't a decent cutting horse or barrel racer in the entire state. If I were you, I'd hold a wake for her.

Tony

I've lived about 30 minutes away from Georgetown in Lexington for nearly 20 years.. Georgetown is very small and quaint, with a beautiful downtown historic district and many horse farms. Most people who live there either go to Georgetown college, work at Toyota, or grew up in the area. You probably won't find many decent two-bedroom houses, but a three-bedroom house will cost between $80,000-$100,000, depending on the acreage of the property. One bedroom apartments in Lexington rent for $450-$750 a month, and they should be slightly less expensive in Georgetown. She may consider living in Lexington and commuting to Georgetown (it's an easy drive) for the social and community benefits of a larger town. Also, there's definitely a strong catholic following in the Central Kentucky region and she should have no problem finding a good church.