Louisville, KY


32 Reviews



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Louisville, KY

About Louisville, KY

Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky is a city full of life and culture. Spend the day exploring history at the Frazier History Museum or take in some incredible works of art from the Speed Art Museum. Those looking for outdoor activities can find them with a trip to Waterfront Park or enjoy some birding at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. For more excitement, head out to Churchill Downs for a tour of the historic race track or explore nearby Mammoth Cave National Park. From its world-famous attractions to its vibrant culture, Louisville-Jefferson County is sure to keep you entertained! Mid-sized city - Northern Kentucky along the Ohio River at the Indiana border, 100 miles southwest of Cincinnati.

State: Kentucky
County: Jefferson County
Metro Area: Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Area
City: Louisville
Zip Codes: 40214, 40216, 40299, 40219, 40229, 40272, 40291, 40245, 40218, 40220, 20 total
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Elevation: 488 ft above sea level

Louisville (pronounced lou-ah-vul locally) is an industrial, shipping, and commercial center. It has a prosperous river-town character with a distinct Southern accent. Downtown contains a few modern buildings, but the skyline is indistinct overall. The shady historic districts east and south of town with gracious Southern-style Victorian era homes are far more interesting.

Areas farther south are more blue-collar, while the west side of town is a mixed bag. The first Saturday of every May, Louisville becomes the center of the sports world with the running of the Kentucky Derby, a major local event. The city is known for production of autos, appliances, baseball bats, and health care management. It is home to the University of Louisville and is a busy air cargo hub.

Nationally, the city’s air service and spectator sports have become more important in recent years. The Ohio River offers some recreational opportunities, and the city is known for its excellent park system. The historically and culturally interesting bourbon country lies 50 miles south in Bardstown, making a nice weekend trip. Downsides include a low enrollment in public schools, a high pollen/allergy score, congestion and fairly long commute times for the type of area. But negatives are fairly minor and overall Louisville offers a complete package.

The city is divided into two portions with different topographies. The east is rolling hillsides with mostly residential areas, while the west is a flat floodplain containing industry. The climate is continental and highly variable. Located near storm tracks, it is characterized by frequent shifts between warm moist Gulf air and cooler air from the north and west. Summers are usually warm and humid. Winters are moderately cold, though hills to the north in Indiana block polar air. Snow may be observed on those hills while absent in the city and river valley. Spring and summer thunderstorms are common, often producing heavy amounts. Fall is normally the driest season. First freeze is late October, last is mid-April.

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Louisville Cost of Living

Cost of living, arts and culture, and attractive historic districts make Louisville a great place to live.

$229,700
-47.2% lower than avg
$58,357
-18.3% lower than avg
7.6 / 5.7
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Louisville Crime
87.2 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Louisville, Kentucky
$43,920
for a family
$38,800
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Louisville
   Cost of living
Economic cycles
   Arts and culture
High pollen/allergy score
   Attractive historic districts
Commute times
Reviews for Louisville
    See all (32)

Over 2 years ago
I've lived in Louisville for 68 years it's one of the best cities to live in. The worse thing about Louisville is how much it has grown. Crime has increased in downtown  More
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Over 3 years ago
I spent a day in Louisville as a tourist. Horrible. Nothing to see. Kind of decrepited. I wished I'd skipped it  More
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Over 3 years ago
Love/miss Louisville! Not to big, not to small. JUST PERFECT!  More
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