Living in Louisville, KY

Louisville is the 27th-largest city in the US, home to about 642,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run below the national average (93.1 on an index where the US is 100).

Population, 2025

641,962+1.6% since 2020

Median home value

$233,9003.5 years of median income

Median rent

$1,120/morent plus utilities

Household income

$66,849median, per year

Price level

93.1US average = 100

January / July highs

44° / 89°lows 28° / 71°

Average commute

23 min13% work from home

State income tax

3.5%top rate, flat

Cost of living in Louisville

The median home in Louisville is worth $233,900 and the median household earns $66,849 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.5 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,120 a month, about 20% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area at 93.1, with housing at 78.6 and goods at 96.2 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $69,800 here. Kentucky taxes wages at a top rate of 3.5% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in Kentucky is 6%.

All items93.1

Housing78.6

Goods96.2

Utilities75.0

Other services96.8

What would my salary be worth in Louisville?

Louisville weather

Average highs run from 44°F in January to 89°F in July, and January nights average 28°F. It gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 13 inches of snow. Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Nights drop below freezing about 74 times a year. The most comfortable months are June and September to October.

Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Louisville

People and work

The median resident is 37.7 years old, and 34% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 61% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 22 minutes; 13% of workers work from home.

Median age

37.7347th youngest of 546

Bachelor's or higher

34%adults 25+

Homeowners

61%of households

People per sq mile

2,441263.0 sq mi of land

Take transit to work

2%2% walk, 0.3% bike

Unemployment

5.5%2020-2024 average

Poverty rate

15.8%of residents

Typical home built

1971median year

Who moves to Louisville, and where people go

From farther away, newcomers most often come from Miami (Miami-Dade County), Nashville (Davidson County) and Indianapolis (Marion County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Chicago (Cook County), Nashville (Davidson County) and Indianapolis (Marion County). See the map and full lists

IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.

Natural hazards, home prices and air quality

FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.

Parks and sights near Louisville

The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.

• University of Louisville 5 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Galen College of Nursing-Louisville 12 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Indiana University-Southeast 13 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Sons of the American Revolution Museum 7 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Sullivan University 2 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Bellarmine University 3 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Wyandotte Caves Cave 34 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Louisville Zoo Zoo 2 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Kentucky Kingdom Theme park 4 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Speed Art Museum Museum 5 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Muhammad Ali Center Museum 7 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Falls of the Ohio State Park State park 8 miles
  BeenWant to go

Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.

Airports near Louisville

Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.

Colleges in and near Louisville

US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.

Frost dates and fall color in Louisville

Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 31, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 29 and the first frost comes around November 7.

NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Louisville Intl. Airport, KY, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Louisville.

Wildfire smoke in Louisville

From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Louisville on about 132 days a year, including about 26 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.

Home internet in Louisville

Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 264,505 households. Compare every city.

Public schools in Louisville

Downtown Louisville is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.

Other districts within 10 miles: Bullitt County School District (13,007 students), New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools (11,362 students), Greater Clark County Schools (10,645 students), Clarksville Community School Corporation (7,174 students).

National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.

Louisville's twin cities

Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Louisville's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).

• High Point, NC87% matchCompare
• Greensboro, NC85% matchCompare
• Winston-Salem, NC84% matchCompare
• Kansas City, MO80% matchCompare

Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler

Stargazing near Louisville

The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:

• Pickett Civilian Conservation Corps Memorial State Park International Dark Sky Park 123 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Obed Wild and Scenic River International Dark Sky Park 155 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Middle Fork River Forest Preserve International Dark Sky Park 195 miles
  BeenWant to go

Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.

Ski resorts near Louisville

• Paoli Peaks 52 miles
  BeenWant to go
• Perfect North Slopes 79 miles
  BeenWant to go

Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.

+ Follow LouisvilleGet a short email when locals add answers, picks or photos here. Sign in to follow.

Pros and cons of living in Louisville

Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.

Pros

• Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.5 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
• Data Everyday prices in the metro run 7% below the US average (BEA).

Add a pro

Post

Cons

• Nothing stands out in the data. Locals, what should newcomers know?

Add a con

Post

Louisville report card from locals

0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Louisville report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.

Rate Louisville (2 minutes)

1 is poor, 5 is excellent. Skip anything you do not have an opinion on.

Would recommend it

12345

Value for money (optional)

12345

Job market (optional)

12345

Getting around (optional)

12345

Feeling safe (optional)

12345

Friendly people (optional)

12345

Things to do (optional)

12345

Weather (optional)

12345

How long have you lived in Louisville?ChooseUnder a year1 to 3 years3 to 10 yearsMore than 10 yearsI used to live thereYour ZIP code (optional, not shown)

What do you wish you had known before moving here? (optional) What do you love most? (optional)

Your first name (shown)Email (never shown, used to confirm it is you)

Send my report card

Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.

Ask a local about Louisville

No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Louisville can answer.

Ask Louisville locals a question

Ask

Louisville through locals' eyes

No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.

Share a photo

Photo (JPEG or PNG, up to 12 MB) Caption I took this photo and I am happy for Cities Online to show it with my first name.

Your first name (shown)Email (never shown, used to confirm it is you)

Send for review

Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.

Cities near Louisville

Straight-line distance between city centers.

Looking at the suburbs? Mount Washington, Sellersburg and La Grange lead our ranking of the best suburbs of Louisville.

Cities with a similar profile

Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.

Compare Louisville with another city

Louisville vsCompare

Frequently asked questions

Is Louisville a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, short commutes. Compare Louisville side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.

What is the population of Louisville?

The Census Bureau estimates Louisville had 641,962 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 631,901 in April 2020 (+1.6%).

How much do you need to earn to live in Louisville?

Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,800 in the Louisville area. The median household here earns $66,849.

When is the best time to visit Louisville?

By the 1991-2020 climate normals, June and September to October are the most comfortable months. July averages 89°F and January 44°F for daytime highs.

What county is Louisville in?

Louisville is in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.

What time zone is Louisville in?

Louisville is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).

What is the elevation of Louisville?

About 466 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.

Does Kentucky have a state income tax?

Yes. Kentucky has a flat income tax with a top rate of 3.5% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.

Sources

Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Louisville. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Louisville Intl. Airport, KY station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.