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Living in Louisville, KY

Big city in Kentucky

Louisville is a big city in Kentucky, home to about 627,000 people, with 1.1 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Louisville a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $276k and rents for $1,630 a month
  • Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low taxes: about $1,066 state income tax per resident, 0.86% property tax
  • Easy flying: SDF is 5 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Few dog parks: 8 within 9 mi
  • Smaller job market: about 1.1 million people live within 31 mi

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Louisville ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
627,000
1.1 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
45°F / 86°F
Average daily highs · 15″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$276k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,630/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
93
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,066
State income tax per resident · 0.86% property tax
Safety
1.8× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
12 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
3
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
33%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
SDF
5 mi away

Living in Louisville: common questions

What is the cost of living in Louisville?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $276k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,630 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Louisville?

Kentucky collects about $1,066 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.86% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Louisville safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.8× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Louisville?

Louisville has cool winters: winter days average around 45°F and summer days around 86°F, with roughly 15″ of snow a year.

Does Louisville get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 12 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.84 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Louisville?

The nearest major airport is SDF, about 5 mi away.

How Louisville scores

Each bar compares Louisville with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Good
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Good

Places like Louisville

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Louisville right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.