Living in Louisville, KY

Crime in Louisville runs a bit below the national average. The violent crime index is 66 (100 is the U.S. baseline), with property crime at 93. That puts it in a decent spot — not the safest metro in the country, but meaningfully better than the midpoint. Neighborhood choice still matters, especially if you have kids or walk home late. FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

By most measures, yes. The median rent of $1,069/month against a median household income of $64,731/year works out to a 19.8% rent-to-income ratio. Financial planners generally want that number under 30%, so Louisville clears the bar with room to spare. You'll have breathing space for savings, car payments, and the occasional splurge. Numbers from Census ACS 2023.

Worth considering, yes. At 20 minutes average, the commute in Louisville isn't brutal but it's not trivial either. 73.5% drive alone, 2.2% ride transit, and 11.6% work remotely. Where you live relative to your office will make a bigger difference than the city-wide average suggests.

Not particularly. The climate risk score is 31/100, which puts Louisville in the low-risk tier. Flood, Tornado, and Heat Wave are the most relevant hazards, but none of them are frequent concerns. Standard insurance should have you covered. It's one less thing to worry about if you're comparing this city to higher-risk metros along the coast or in tornado alley. Data from FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA.

Mixed. The city-wide graduation rate is 82.0% and classrooms average 15 students per teacher. Some schools here are legitimately excellent — strong test scores, engaged communities, good resources. Others struggle. The gap between the best and worst is wider than you might expect. Do your homework on individual schools rather than relying on the city-wide number.

About what you'd expect anywhere. The average monthly utility bill in Louisville runs around $227 for electricity, gas, water, and sewer combined. The national average is $230, so you're right in line. Your actual bill depends on home size, insulation quality, and how much you run the AC or heater — but no surprises here.

Good, overall. The median AQI sits at 50, which falls within the EPA's "Good" category, and Louisville logs 232 clean-air days annually. PM2.5 is the main pollutant. Occasional spikes happen — wildfire smoke, temperature inversions, or high-ozone days — but they're the exception, not the rule. Check AirNow.gov during allergy season or summer heat waves.

A fair amount. The total effective tax rate is roughly 11.3% when you combine income, property, and sales taxes. Sales tax alone is 6.0%. That's close to the national average — not punishing, not light. If you're relocating from a low-tax state, run the numbers for your income level before committing. The difference can add up to thousands per year.

Mostly, yes. The system scores 75/100, with 0 health-based violations on record and a "medium" lead risk rating. That's a solid track record. Most residents drink tap water without issues. If you're in an older building with pre-1986 plumbing, a basic filter is a cheap precaution. For detailed contaminant info, check EWG's Tap Water Database.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.