How are property tax rates determined in Kentucky?

Property tax rates in Kentucky are set by each taxing district (municipality, school district, park district, library, etc.) based on their annual levy (the amount of tax revenue they need). The rate is calculated by dividing the levy by the total assessed value of all property in the district.

What is the composite tax rate?

The composite tax rate is the sum of all overlapping taxing district rates that apply to a specific property. A typical property may be taxed by several overlapping districts. The composite rate determines your total tax bill when multiplied by your property's assessed value.

Why do tax rates vary within the same town?

Properties within the same municipality can have different composite rates because overlapping districts (school, park, fire, library) have different boundaries. A home in one school district may have a different rate than a home two blocks away in a different school district.

Covington, KY Property Tax Rate 2026 — Full Breakdown by District

Showing latest tax year with year-over-year changes. Full rate history available with a paid plan. View plans →

Property Tax — Tax Year 2025 (payable 2026)i

IL DOR

Composite Ratei

1.33%–2.03%-0.7%YoY

Varies by school district

Municipal Portioni

0.2870%+3.6%YoY17.1% of total

Effective Ratei

1.33%–2.03%

Est. Annual Taxi

$2K–$4K

Median Home Valuei

$187,300

Rate varies by school district. Your actual rate depends on which school district your property falls in.

Rate Trend — click a year to explorei

20242025

Municipal

Other Districts

Where Your Tax Dollar Goesi

$0.67 School GENERAL WALTON VERONA IND SCHOOL IN KENTON COUNT (Kenton County)

$0.57 School GENERAL COVINGTON INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)

$0.56 School GENERAL ERLANGER ELSMERE INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)

$0.56 School GENERAL LUDLOW INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)

$0.49 School GENERAL BEECHWOOD INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)

$0.37 School GENERAL KENTON COUNTY (Kenton County)

$0.17 City COVINGTON (Kenton County)

$0.12 Special RYLAND HEIGHTS FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)

$0.12 Special PINER FISKBURG FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)

$0.12 Special ELSMERE FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)

$0.11 Special BOONE WALTON FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)

$0.10 Special LUDLOW FIRE PROTECTION AND EMS (Kenton County)

$0.10 Special CRESCENT SPRINGS VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)

$0.10 Special INDEPENDENCE FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)

$0.09 Special PARK HILLS ROAD TAX (Kenton County)

$0.07 County GENERAL FISCAL COURT (Kenton County)

$0.06 County LIBRARY (Kenton County)

$0.01 County HEALTH (Kenton County)

$0.01 County NO KY AREA PLANNING COMMISSION (Kenton County)

$0.01 County EXTENSION SERVICES (Kenton County)

Estimated Tax by Home Valuei

$50K

$221–$338

$100K

$442–$676

$150K

$663–$1,014

$200K

$885–$1,352

$250K

$1,106–$1,690

$300K

$1,327–$2,028

$350K

$1,548–$2,366

Highlighted value is closest to median home value ($187K)

20 Overlapping Taxing Districtsi

School GENERAL WALTON VERONA IND SCHOOL IN KENTON COUNT (Kenton County)Unit K-12

66.6%1.1180%

School GENERAL COVINGTON INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)Unit K-12

56.7%0.9510%

School GENERAL ERLANGER ELSMERE INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)Unit K-12

56.3%0.9450%

School GENERAL LUDLOW INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)Unit K-12

55.6%0.9320%

School GENERAL BEECHWOOD INDEPENDENT (Kenton County)Unit K-12

49.2%0.8250%

School GENERAL KENTON COUNTY (Kenton County)Unit K-12

36.8%0.6170%

City COVINGTON (Kenton County)i

17.1%0.2870%

Special RYLAND HEIGHTS FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)i

11.9%0.2000%

Special PINER FISKBURG FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)i

11.9%0.2000%

Special ELSMERE FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)i

11.9%0.2000%

Special BOONE WALTON FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)i

11.4%0.1920%

Special LUDLOW FIRE PROTECTION AND EMS (Kenton County)i

10.4%0.1750%

Special CRESCENT SPRINGS VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)i

10.3%0.1720%

Special INDEPENDENCE FIRE DISTRICT (Kenton County)i

10.3%0.1720%

Special PARK HILLS ROAD TAX (Kenton County)i

9.2%0.1550%

County GENERAL FISCAL COURT (Kenton County)i

6.9%0.1150%

County LIBRARY (Kenton County)i

6%0.1010%

County HEALTH (Kenton County)i

1.4%0.0230%

County NO KY AREA PLANNING COMMISSION (Kenton County)i

1.1%0.0180%

County EXTENSION SERVICES (Kenton County)i

0.7%0.0110%