What is the rental yield in Walnut Ridge, Lexington, Kentucky?

The gross yield in Walnut Ridge, Lexington, Kentucky is 4.6. Pricing is in line with the city and 9% above the state median, while prices have risen 7.2% over the past year. The Red Flag score is 71, so the risk profile is elevated.

How has pricing changed in Walnut Ridge over the past year?

Pricing in Walnut Ridge, Lexington, Kentucky is up 7.2% over the past year. It remains in line with the city and 9% above the state median. Gross yield is 4.6, and the Red Flag score is 71.

How does Walnut Ridge compare with Lexington and Kentucky?

Walnut Ridge in Lexington, Kentucky is in line with the city and 9% above the state median. Gross yield is 4.6, walkability is 52, and education is in the 72nd percentile. The Red Flag score of 71 is higher than the other listed metrics suggest.

What do the walkability and education scores mean for Walnut Ridge?

Walnut Ridge in Lexington, Kentucky has walkability of 52 and education in the 72nd percentile. That indicates a moderate walkability level and an above-midpoint school-district test-score percentile. The Red Flag score is 71, and prices are up 7.2% over the past year.

Neighborhood

Walnut Ridge

Lexington, Kentucky US

Walnut Ridge in Lexington, Kentucky is a balanced but higher-risk investment profile, with pricing in line with the city, 9% above the state median, a gross yield of 4.6, and prices up 7.2% over the past year. Walkability is 52 and education is in the 72nd percentile, which supports a moderate amenity and school-score profile. The Red Flag score of 71 is the main caution, even as the recent price trend and stable city-level pricing provide some support.

AI Summary•Updated May 2026

Area

0.03 mi²

ZIP Code

40509

County

Fayette County

State

Kentucky

Redfin — median sale & volumeZillow ZORI — asking rentFEMA National Risk Index v1.20OpenStreetMap — POIFBI UCR — state crimeEPA — radon zonesWashU ACAG — satellite PM2.5US Census ACS / TIGER 2024

Verified Price · Median Sale

$409,878

YoY+7.2%

Gross Rental Yield

4.6%

Listed rent · ZORI annualized

Red Flag Index

High

71 / 100

Walkability Score

Somewhat Walkable

OpenStreetMap POI density · national percentile

Education Score

72 / 100

Excellent · better than 72% of U.S. districts

Pre-pandemic SEDA (2018/19) · district proxy

AI Score

Fair

DistrictScore attractiveness · national model

Walnut Ridge Property Prices & Rental Yield

Verified Redfin sale data and Zillow ZORI asking rent for Walnut Ridge, Lexington.

Unlock the Walnut Ridge 12-month price trend

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Market Economics Snapshot

May 2026

Metric	Value	YoY
Median Sale Price	$409,878	+7.2%
Price / Sq Ft (Verified)	$202/sqft	+7.2%
Asking Rent (Median)	$1,564/mo	-1.7%
Gross Rental Yield	4.6%	—
Liquidity Score	45 / 100	Moderate
Homes Sold (Period)	190	+1.6%

Is Walnut Ridge Safe? Natural-Hazard Risk

FEMA National Risk Index composite across eight hazards, plus inherited Kentucky crime context.

Red Flag Breakdown

71 / 100

High Risk

Composite is weighted by expected impact — frequent low-damage hazards (hail, wind) weigh less than flood or wildfire.

Tornado100Very High

Strong Wind100Very High

Earthquake80Very High

Hail80Very High

Flood60High

Wildfire60High

Hurricane60High

Heat60High

8/8 hazards scored · FEMA NRI v1.20

Crime (state-level): Kentucky averaged 15.6 crimes and 2.1 violent per 1,000 residents (-11.9% YoY) in 2024(FBI UCR). Compare the state to the country, not states as a ranking — full Safety & Crime data lives on the state page.

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Tract-level hazard heatmap & parcel detail with Pro

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See all eight FEMA hazard scores — free with a DistrictScore account.

What Stands Out AI Insight

Appreciating market — +7.2% sale-price YoY

Active transaction volume — 190 homes sold last period

Tornado risk is Very High (100/100)

Strong Wind risk is Very High (100/100)

Insights are generated from Walnut Ridge's live DistrictScore metrics.

Walnut Ridge Environment & Safety

Satellite PM2.5 air-quality history, FBI UCR crime trend (Kentucky-level, the finest official aggregation), EPA radon potential and point-source hazard screening.

Air Quality — PM2.5

2015–2024

6.2 µg/m³ Meets EPA, above WHO guideline-24.0% since 2015

EPA 9WHO 5

20152024

Annual mean fine-particle (PM2.5) concentration at the Walnut Ridge centroid, satellite-derived (ACAG). References: WHO guideline 5 µg/m³ · EPA annual standard 9 µg/m³. Latest year ranks worse than 56% of U.S. neighborhoods.

Kentucky Crime Trend

FBI UCR

20132024

All crimes / 1k

Violent / 1k

Year	Crimes / 1k	Violent / 1k	YoY
2024	15.6	2.1	-11.9%
2023	17.9	2.3	+5.8%
2022	17.1	2.2	-9.8%
2021	18.9	2.7	-6.5%
2020	20.4	2.6	-4.2%
2019	21.3	2.2	—

Reported at the state level — the finest official US crime aggregation; Walnut Ridge inherits the Kentucky figures.

Radon Potential

EPA

Zone 1

Zone 1 — Highest potential · Walnut Ridge

EPA radon zones estimate indoor radon potential county-wide (Zone 1 highest, Zone 3 lowest). Testing is recommended in all zones.

Walkability & Amenities in Walnut Ridge

Amenity density and pedestrian access from OpenStreetMap points of interest.

Walkability & Amenities

OpenStreetMap POI

52

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability Score

0

Grocery

0

Dining

1

Schools

0

Universities

0

Hospitals

0

Pharmacies

1

Parks

0

Rail Transit

0

Coworking

POI counts are amenities within Walnut Ridge's boundary plus a 400 m walk buffer. Rail transit excludes bus stops.

Walnut Ridge vs Lexington vs Kentucky

How Walnut Ridge benchmarks against its city and state medians.

Benchmark vs City & State

Across Walnut Ridge, the median sale price sits in line with the median for Lexington neighborhoods and about 9% above the statewide median. Gross rental yield is 4.6%, against 5.3% for Lexington neighborhoods and 5.5% statewide. Over the past 12 months, prices rose 7.2%. Transaction liquidity sits above the median for Lexington neighborhoods and above the statewide median.

Area	Median / Sq Ft	Gross Yield	Liquidity
Walnut Ridge	$202/sqft	4.6%	45
Lexington	$202/sqft	5.3%	33
Kentucky	$186/sqft	5.5%	40

Unlock the Walnut Ridge benchmark

Compare Walnut Ridge against Lexington and Kentucky medians — free with a DistrictScore account.

Buying Property in the US as a Foreigner

Federal & Kentucky tax facts for non-resident buyers, plus the latest local market news.

Buying as a Foreigner

US Tax & Ownership

Applies to everyone7

Capital Gains (Federal)

Long-term capital gains taxed federally at 0/15/20%, plus a 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax on higher incomes (2026).

Property Tax

Property tax: ~0.72% average effective rate (statewide average; set and collected locally).

State Income Tax

State income tax up to 4.0%; rental income is taxed at these rates.

State Capital Gains

Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income at state rates.

Transfer Tax

Real estate transfer tax: $0.50 per $500.

Assessment Cap

No Proposition 13-style assessment cap; property is reassessed at market value.

Mansion Tax / Rent Control

No statewide mansion tax or statewide rent control.

US citizens & tax residents7

Primary-Home Exclusion

Selling your main home: exclude up to $250k of gain (single) / $500k (married) if you owned and lived there 2 of the last 5 years.

1031 Like-Kind Exchange

A 1031 like-kind exchange defers capital gains tax on investment property; 45 days to identify, 180 to close. Real estate only.

Depreciation Recapture

Residential rentals depreciate over 27.5 years; on sale, recaptured depreciation is taxed up to 25% (Section 1250).

Mortgage Interest Deduction

Mortgage interest is deductible on up to $750k of home debt. The SALT cap rose to $40,000 for 2025-2029 (reverts to $10k in 2030).

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones are now permanent (2025): reinvested capital gains get deferral plus a basis step-up, and are tax-free after 10 years.

Rental Income (Resident)

Rental income is reported on Schedule E; passive-loss rules (Section 469) limit deducting rental losses against other income.

1031 State Conformity

The state conforms to the federal 1031 like-kind exchange rules.

Foreign buyers (non-residents)5

FIRPTA (Foreign Sellers)

FIRPTA: the buyer withholds 15% of the gross sale price when a nonresident sells US property. It is an advance deposit, not the final tax.

Non-Resident Capital Gains

Nonresident sellers pay US capital gains tax (generally 15-20%) on the net gain via Form 1040-NR; FIRPTA withholding is credited.

Non-Resident Rental Tax

Nonresident rental income is taxed at 30% of gross by default, or on net income at graduated rates via a Section 871(d) election (W-8ECI).

Estate Tax (Non-Resident)

Nonresidents get only a $60,000 US estate-tax exemption (vs $13.99M for residents); US property above it is taxed up to 40%. Treaties may help.

ITIN Requirement

Nonresidents without an SSN need an ITIN (Form W-7) to file US tax returns, claim FIRPTA refunds, and report rental income.

Talk to a US real-estate tax advisor

FIRPTA, ITIN & Kentucky property-tax guidance for foreign buyers

Latest Lexington Real-Estate News

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Guaranteed Rate • Jun 18, 2026

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Eye On Housing • Jun 18, 2026

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Altus Group • Jun 18, 2026

Walnut Ridge Real Estate FAQ

Walnut Ridge in Lexington, Kentucky has a mixed profile. Pricing is in line with the city and 9% above the state median, gross yield is 4.6, and prices are up 7.2% over the past year. The Red Flag score is 71, which is a notable risk factor.

Neighborhoods near Walnut Ridge

Compare Walnut Ridge with nearby neighborhoods in Lexington.

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