Homes for Sale in Lee County, KY
Three forks, one river, and the most affordable homes-with-land in the Gorge region — from the agent who lives here.
Homes for sale in Lee County, KY are mostly homes with land — hollows, ridge tops, and river bottoms along the three forks of the Kentucky River. The Census puts the county’s median owner-occupied home value at $82,100, the lowest in this corridor, with 3,227 housing units spread across 7,375 people. I’m based in Beattyville, the county seat, so this is the market I drive every day.
Lee County housing by the numbers
| Beattyville (city) | Lee County | |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $106,800 | $82,100 |
| Median household income | $23,750 | $34,182 |
| Owner-occupied share of homes | 41% | 75% |
| Median year homes were built | 1986 | 1986 |
| Median gross rent | $366/mo | $593/mo |
| Population | 1,948 | 7,375 |
| Housing units (share vacant) | 535 (15%) | 3,227 (19%) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates (tables B25077, B25064, B25003, B19013, B25035, B01003, B25002). These are survey estimates with margins of error — not a price guarantee and not a substitute for a live comparable-sales report.
Notice the vacancy share county-wide (19%). In Lee County that isn’t a sign of a dying market — it’s hunting camps, family land held by heirs who live elsewhere, and seasonal places near the Gorge. For a buyer it means two things: there is more inventory than the MLS shows at any given moment (a lot changes hands off-market), and an agent who lives here hears about it first.
Lee County is bought by the acre and lived in by the hollow. The county median is a starting point — the well report, the survey, and the road agreement are the price.
Where the homes are
- Beattyville — the county seat and the only real in-town market; see homes for sale in Beattyville →
- St. Helens, Zoe, and the KY-11 corridor toward the Gorge — camps, cabins, and small acreage within reach of the trailheads.
- The river bottoms along the North, Middle and South Forks — flat ground, older farmhouses, flood maps required.
- Ridge-top tracts off the county roads — the classic “home on 10–40 acres” listing; Lee County land for sale →
This week’s listings and recent sales in Lee County, KY
I pull active listings and the last 90 days of sold prices for Lee County, KY straight from the MLS — the real numbers, not a portal’s estimate. Text “LEE COUNTY REPORT” to (859) 310-1209 and I’ll send today’s snapshot, or ask me for a free valuation if you’re thinking about selling.
What buying in Lee County actually takes
- Well + septic, always. My septic & well guide →
- A current survey when the acreage or the boundary matters (heir property is common). Surveys & easements →
- Road and access in writing — gravel lanes, shared drives, and forest-service-adjacent parcels. Private roads →
- Off-grid and remote? Some of it genuinely is. Off-grid & remote properties →
- Financing: nearly all of Lee County is USDA-eligible rural territory; land-heavy purchases may need a land or construction product — ask your lender. USDA basics → (education only; I’m your agent, not your lender).
Living here
Lee County wraps around the three forks of the Kentucky River, borders the Daniel Boone National Forest, and sits about half an hour from the Red River Gorge. Schools: Lee County Schools. Farming, gardens, and livestock: the Lee County Cooperative Extension. Assessments and deeds: start at the Kentucky PVA directory. Town details: Living in Beattyville →
Questions I get about buying in Lee County
Are there homes in Lee County under $100,000?
The county median owner-occupied home value in the Census data is below that, so yes — but condition and access vary enormously. Text me and I will send what is actually listed this week rather than guess.
Can I get a USDA loan in Lee County?
Most of Lee County falls in USDA-eligible rural territory. Eligibility depends on the property and your income, and I am your agent, not your lender — I will point you to lenders who do USDA loans here every week.
Why do so many Lee County properties sell off-market?
Family land, heir property, and hunting camps often change hands by word of mouth. Living in Beattyville, I hear about them — that is the practical reason to use a local agent here.
By Marcos Gil, REALTOR® — Keller Williams Commonwealth · KY Real Estate License No. 296259 · Based in Beattyville, KY · Call or text (859) 310-1209. I’m your agent, not your lender — financing notes here are education only.
Last updated: August 19, 2026