Homes for Sale in Stanton, KY
The Red River Gorge gateway on the Mountain Parkway — 45 minutes to Lexington, 15 to the cliffs.
Homes for sale in Stanton, KY come with a location most of eastern Kentucky can’t match: the Mountain Parkway puts Lexington about 45 minutes away, and the Red River Gorge trailheads about 15. That’s why Powell County carries the highest median home value in the corridor — $127,200 in Stanton, $142,400 county-wide, and $108,600 next door in Clay City — and why it gets both commuters and cabin buyers.
Stanton housing by the numbers
| Stanton (city) | Powell County | |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $127,200 | $142,400 |
| Median household income | $29,141 | $39,811 |
| Owner-occupied share of homes | 55% | 69% |
| Median year homes were built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Median gross rent | $820/mo | $743/mo |
| Population | 3,211 | 13,057 |
| Housing units (share vacant) | 1,385 (19%) | 5,619 (18%) |
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.
Read the two gaps. Powell County’s median ($142,400) runs above Stanton’s ($127,200) because the county includes the Gorge cabin market around Slade and Nada, where short-term-rental buyers have pushed prices up. And the median year built of 1979 in town versus 1984 county-wide tells you where the newer construction is: out on the acreage and the cabin roads, not on Main Street.
Stanton is two markets sharing one courthouse: an honest small-town housing market in the city, and a cabin-and-cliffs market twenty minutes north. Know which one you’re shopping before you compare prices.
What kinds of homes come up for sale here
- In-town homes in Stanton and Clay City — the commuter market; ranch homes, newer subdivisions on the edges, walkable to schools and the parkway.
- Cabins and second homes toward Slade, Nada, and the Gorge — a different market with different rules; cabins for sale in the Gorge → and Slade-area real estate →
- Acreage with a home off KY-11 and KY-15 — Powell County land →
- Build sites for buyers who’d rather design the cabin than inherit one — building near the Gorge →
This week’s listings and recent sales in Stanton, KY
I pull active listings and the last 90 days of sold prices for Stanton, KY straight from the MLS — the real numbers, not a portal’s estimate. Text “STANTON 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 a home in Stanton actually takes
- Decide commuter vs. cabin first. The inspection list, insurance, and financing differ — and so do the comps.
- If it might become a rental: short-term-rental rules vary by jurisdiction in Powell County. I’ll point you to the current ordinance before you write an offer.
- Wells, septic, and private roads outside the city limits — septic & well → · private roads →
- Financing: parts of Powell County qualify for USDA rural loans; cabins used as rentals usually don’t — ask your lender. USDA basics → (education only).
Living here
Stanton is the Powell County seat and the front door to the Red River Gorge Geological Area of the Daniel Boone National Forest — Natural Bridge State Resort Park, the Nada Tunnel, and some of the best climbing in the eastern U.S. are all within a short drive. Schools: Powell County Schools. Land and garden questions: Powell County Cooperative Extension. Property records: Powell County PVA. More on the towns: Living in Stanton & Clay City →
Questions I get about buying in Stanton
Is Stanton a good place to commute to Lexington from?
It is the most commutable town in the Gorge corridor — the Mountain Parkway to Lexington is roughly 45 minutes. That commute is a big reason Powell County home values lead the region.
Can I buy a home in Stanton and rent it on Airbnb?
Possibly — short-term-rental rules differ by jurisdiction in Powell County and change. Before you write an offer on anything you plan to rent short-term, I will pull the current ordinance for that exact address.
What is the difference between buying in Stanton and buying near Slade?
Different markets. Stanton and Clay City are in-town and commuter homes; Slade and Nada are the cabin and short-term-rental market with different comps, insurance, and financing. Decide which one you are buying first.
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