Kentucky homes are mostly wood-frame houses with drywall, often with brick veneer, but the state has an unusually high share of manufactured homes: about 10 percent of housing units. Older masonry and plaster homes appear in cities like Louisville, Lexington and Covington.

median year homes were built: 1983; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 27.1%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 21.4%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 70.4%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 12.2%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 10.3%; mobile homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (tables B25035, B25034, B25024)

Common wall types

Wood-stud drywall walls

Where: Most single-family homes and newer subdivisions in Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into at least two studs.

Manufactured and mobile home walls

Where: About 10 percent of Kentucky housing units, with higher concentrations in rural and Appalachian areas.

Mounting: Wall panels are thin and studs may be spaced wider, so the mount must hit framing. Heavy or articulating mounts may need added blocking, and the installer should check interior paneling type.

Plaster on lath and brick masonry

Where: Older homes in Louisville, Covington and Newport, Paducah and other historic districts.

Mounting: Plaster can crack if drilled carelessly. Solid brick takes masonry anchors, but anchor into brick, not mortar.

Basement or crawlspace foundations with block walls

Where: Hilly terrain houses with walkout basements, as well as older houses on block foundations.

Mounting: If the wall is framed, mount into studs. Direct mounting into block uses 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve anchors in the face shell.

Brick veneer and stone fireplaces

Where: Common on newer brick-front houses and in living-room fireplaces.

Mounting: Veneer is not structural. Mount through to the backing wall studs or the masonry behind it, not into the veneer alone.

Tips before you mount

Lag the mount into at least two studs (usually 16" on center) with 5/16" lag bolts about 2.5" to 3" long; a full-motion arm puts much more leverage on the wall than a flat mount, so it should never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Manufactured homes: find the framing with a stud finder, since spacing can differ from 16 inches, and consider adding blocking or a backer board spanning two studs before hanging a heavy TV on an arm.
Plaster and lath: locate framing first and pre-drill slowly; where no stud lines up, use toggle bolts or snap toggles rated for the TV and mount weight rather than plastic plug anchors.
Brick, block and concrete: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill and masonry bit, drilling into solid brick or the face shell of block rather than mortar joints where possible.
Hiding wires: the National Electrical Code (NEC 400.12) does not allow a regular TV power cord to run inside the wall. Use an in-wall rated recessed power kit, and choose low-voltage cable rated CL2 or CL3 for in-wall HDMI and speaker runs. Manufactured homes may have restrictions on cutting into walls, so a surface raceway can be a practical choice.
Over a fireplace: check the TV maker's heat limits and measure surface temperature where the screen would sit; heat rises from the firebox, and a mantel or deeper surround can redirect it. Masonry and stone surrounds need masonry anchors, not drywall anchors.
Kentucky summers are hot and humid and winters freeze: outdoor TVs should be outdoor-rated with a suitable temperature range and corrosion-resistant hardware.
Before work starts, tell the installer the wall type, the TV size and weight, and the mount type. These change the anchors, labor time and price.

Sources: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 1-year: Kentucky (B25035, B25034, B25024) · Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: 2025 manufactured housing data factsheet, Kentucky · WAVE 3: Older building codes in Kentucky may lack tornado protections. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.