On the southern outskirts of Lexington, Nicholasville has a small-town feel and a population of just over 30,000. It’s the seventh-fastest-growing city in Kentucky, with new retail centers and neighborhoods steadily popping up. “Nicholasville is a convenient city with every amenity that you need,” says Jonah Mitchell, a local broker with Jonah Mitchell Real Estate who has over 40 years of experience in the area. “Yet it still allows us that rural country feel and the ability to know our neighbors.” With downtown Lexington in one direction and horse farms in another, Nicholasville is the halfway point between city and country.
Most of Nicholasville’s workforce commutes into Lexington, which has major employers like the University of Kentucky and CHI Saint Joseph Hospital. However, the smaller city is also home to several industrial hubs, including manufacturing companies and the global headquarters of Alltech Biotechnology.
Living in Brannon Crossing, you can enjoy a beautiful afternoon at Connemara Golf Course.
The Northeast Nicholasville water tower is easily spotted driving through the neighborhood.
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Lower price per square foot than in Lexington
Just outside of vintage Downtown Nicholasville , homes tend to be mid-century ranch styles on looping suburban grids. However, a good portion of the available properties are new construction. Rolling pastures are turning into subdivisions of large New Traditional builds to meet a growing population. “It’s a high-demand area — if you list it, you’ll sell it,” Mitchell says.
The average home price in Nicholasville is $360,000, with condos and smaller homes starting at $250,000. Around the outskirts of town, sprawling properties with several acres can sell for over $1 million. “You get more house and land for your money compared to Lexington,” says Wayne Sewell, a real estate agent with The Agency and Nicholasville native. “And there’s most definitely a luxury market. The bigger homes are selling like crazy.”
ust outside of vintage downtown Nicholasville, homes tend to be mid-century ranch styles on looping suburban grids.
Homebuyers looking in West Nicholasville can expect to spend around $182 per square foot.
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Horse farms, wine tasting and hiking trails
Surrounding Nicholasville, the rolling Kentucky hills are home to horse farms, golf courses and wine vineyards with tasting tours. “We have a very strong presence in the horse industry here, with several fabulous farms,” Mitchell says. From Thoroughbred sales to horse-back-riding lessons, the horse culture of Kentucky can be felt strongly in Nicholasville. There's also the Kentucky River 10 miles south, which is surrounded by hiking trails and hunting preserves. Within Nicholasville city limits, public parks include an aquatic center with waterslides, which is in West Nicholasville . John Preece Park, in South Nicholasville , has a turf football field donated by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
Feeding a horse at a local farm is just minutes from Brannon Crossing.
At Veterans Park, the mountain bike trail is approximately 3.5 miles long.
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The community gathers at churches and summer events
“There’s a strong community here; if you ever need anything, it’s just a call away,” Mitchell says. “Everyone knows the school superintendent, the police chief and the folks at city hall. There are lots of churches that bring a spirit of service and helping others.” Besides Sunday services, Nicholasville residents run into each other when listening to downtown’s summer concert series or picking up local produce at Dodd’s Corner Farmer’s Market.
The city’s most-attended event is the Kentucky Wine and Vine Fest, one of the largest wine-tasting festivals in the state. Event-goers can browse artisan booths and play family-friendly games while tasting wines from 15 different wineries.
Bethel Church, a historic place of worship, is just minutes from Northeast Nicholasville.
West Nicholasville residents browse fresh local produce at Dodd's Corner.
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Career pathways at school and Comic Con at the library
The city is served by Jessamine County Schools, which gets an overall B-plus rating from Niche. The school district provides free breakfasts and lunches to all students, and several buildings continue to offer free lunches in the summer. Public middle and high school students can explore pathways in fields like agriculture, health science and engineering at the Jessamine Career & Technology Center.
Jessamine Public Library has served the community for over 120 years. “We aim to enrich people's quality of life with innovative ideas, connections with others in the community, and cultural opportunities,” says Emily Moon, the library’s marketing and public relations coordinator. The library hosts artsy classes at their Creative Space and plans the annual Comic Surge, a Comic-Con-style event that draws over 3,000 visitors.
West Jessamine High School is located on Wilmore Road in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
The Jessamine Public Library has a large collection of books, as well as 3D printers, video games, and a recording studio.
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Growing commercial hubs with Kentucky’s first Wawa
Of the smaller towns right outside Lexington, Nicholasville is one of the fastest growing. It has embraced the influx of retail hubs like the Brannon Crossing development, which is an expanding center of stores, restaurants and housing units. “Nicholasville still has a lot of growing to do, but it’s going to be just like Lexington before too long,” Sewell says. “The only thing is the restaurants — although they are just getting better — I don’t think the dining scene here will ever compete with Lexington.” Retail giants in the area include Sam’s Club, Lowe’s and Movie Tavern. In 2024, Kentucky’s first-ever Wawa moved in. At the heart of the city, locally-owned businesses in vintage storefronts line a small, walkable downtown.
West Nicholasville diners make reservations at Honeywood, Chef Ouita Michel's largest restaurant.
West Nicholasville homeowners can find household essentials at Lowe's.
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Traffic builds for commutes into Lexington
Although Nicholasville is only 12 miles from downtown Lexington, the commute can take over an hour with rush-hour traffic. U.S. Route 27 is the most direct, but heading over to U.S. Route 68 can often save a few minutes. Bluegrass RIDE buses run throughout Nicholasville, and a regional connecter makes it into downtown Lexington with only four stops. The Blue Grass Airport, which offers domestic flights, is about 14 miles away.
Important to know
Nicholasville’s crime rates are about equal to Kentucky’s average. They have been steadily decreasing since 2016. The city’s violent crime rate is lower than the national average, and the property crime rate is on par with the national average.
The weather in Nicholasville is hot and humid during the summers, and the city regularly experiences snow in the winters.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
