Big-time festivals and small-town living in central Kentucky
Harrodsburg may be on the smaller side for a city, but it’s no stranger to large parties. Located less than an hour from Lexington, events like the city’s Oktoberfest celebrations and the Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival bring in guests by the thousands each year. “They’re really trying to make it into the festival capital of the state,” says Matt Grimes, principal broker and owner of Southern Lifestyle Realty. Grimes is based one town over in Danville and has sold homes in Harrodsburg and central Kentucky for more than 25 years. Beyond the festivities, residents in Harrodsburg generally enjoy a quiet lifestyle, defined by its small-town character, connections to large industrial employers and generous lot sizes.
The population of Harrodsburg is 9,191.
The median single family home in Harrodsburg is $260,000.
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Rural custom homes and ranch-style properties
Harrodsburg residents generally enjoy a spacious suburban atmosphere, closer in character to small-town or country living compared to Lexington and its immediate orbit. “You’ve got a lot of rural-industrial living out here. There’s plenty of new construction, too,” Grimes says. Market options include ranch-style properties, Colonial Revival houses and custom builds on large lots. The area’s median home price of about $250,000 sits below the national figure and slightly below Kentucky’s median home value.
Harrodsburg’s Mercer County location places residents near manufacturing plants for Hitachi Automotive, major glass supplier Corning, Inc. and Essity Paper. Additional employers with a presence in the area include KeyTronic EMS, Toyota Boshoku and Kentucky Utilities.
Corning in Harrodsburg employs approximately 1,000 people.
The median household income in Harrodsburg is around $44K.
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Festivals at Terrapin Hill Farm
Each spring at Terrapin Hill Farm, the Cabin Fever Reliever Festival brings Americana, rock and bluegrass bands together for a laid-back kickoff to the concert season. The farm also hosts events like Rhythm Rising, a summer drumming-focused event with teaching sessions, ensemble performances and dance workshops. In the early fall, Old Fort Harrod State Park hosts the annual Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival, uniting classic jazz acts and groups for a groovy weekend. A few weeks later in early October, Harrodsburg Oktoberfest spans three days and includes performances, vendors slinging classic German and Kentuckian dishes and beer taps aplenty.
Community members, young and old, take to the stage as actors, stagehands and dancers at the Ragged Edge Community Theater. Between its main stage and the children’s theater, the theater produces about six shows a year. Past shows include Mamma Mia, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Wizard of Oz.
Mercer County Schools
Public school students in Harrodsburg are generally served by Mercer County Public Schools, which manages four main schools and earns an overall B grade on Niche.
Mercer County Senior High School is ranked 121st within Kentucky.
The student population of Kenneth D. King Middle School is 610 and the school serves 6-8.
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Playgrounds and 18th century history at Old Fort Harrod State Park
In line with Central Kentucky weather patterns, winters are chilly with some mild snowfall, while summers peak with warm highs around the high 80s. “For a lot of the folks coming from out west it’s a lot more humid than expected,” Grimes says. Just west of downtown, Old Fort Harrod State Park’s namesake is a replica of the original fort built by James Harrod in 1774, when the town was founded. In addition to visiting the fort museum, guests can have picnics on the grounds or take the kids to the playground. Other city parks like Youngs Park and Alvis Johnson Field provide additional recreation spaces.
Young Park in Harrodsburg offers a fishing pond, picnic shelters and a walking trail.
Old Fort Harrod State Park in Harrodsburg is a replica of the first permanent European settlement in Kentucky, established in 1774.
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James Beard-recognized dining at the Beaumont Inn
Most of Harrodsburg’s major retailers are located along College Street. Walmart, Kroger, and Dollar Tree are familiar choices for everyday needs. Small businesses offer specialty goods close to Main Street downtown. Rags to Riches Antique Center and Flea Mall includes goods from more than 100 individual vendors. Gifts with a local touch are the main attraction at Amanda’s Crafts, while trading cards and tabletop supplies are the name of the game at Storm Crow Curiosities. “Danville’s probably the closest option for everything else that’s not in town," Grimes says. "You’ve got all the same box stores and restaurants as Lexington, just without the traffic." One of Harrodsburg’s prime stops for brunch is The Olde Bus Station. The diner is a local favorite for Saturday morning coffee, eggs and pancakes. About a mile south, the Beaumont Inn hotel offers two distinctive dining experiences: casual meals at the Old Owl Tavern and a main dining room that serves refined Southern meals. The fine dining hall at the inn earned a James Beard Foundation America’s Classic Award in 2015.
The Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg just celebrated 100 years.
Harrodsburg residents pick up groceries and home goods at Walmart.
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A 30-mile drive to Lexington
U.S. Route 68, also known as Lexington Street and Perryville Street, is Harrodsburg’s primary connection to the Lexington area, while other major local highways include Mooreland Avenue/Kentucky Route 152 and U.S. Route 127. Harrodsburg is about 30 miles southwest of Lexington and 73 miles southeast of Louisville.
For emergency services in the area, Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital is on Linden Avenue, close to the heart of town. Residents departing from the area can catch flights out of Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, 32 miles northeast.
Crime rates in Harrodsburg
After reaching a peak in 2014, property crime rates in Harrodsburg have generally fallen over the last decade, in line with national and state trends. According to FBI data, violent crime rose in 2023, but its levels have generally stayed well below national rates since 2008.
Written By
Tre Lyerly
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Minion
Video By
Conar McDaniel
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Debbie Clark,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Harrodsburg, KY sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Harrodsburg, KY over the last 12 months is $279,000, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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