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Louisville/Jefferson County, KY

Charlestown is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County area. This page covers the whole metro.

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What kind of place it is

Big-city feel, Growing

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Louisville/Jefferson County scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Big-city feel
89 / 100
Big-city feel: 1.3 million people in the metro, 12 buildings 20+ stories, 1,149 bus and train stops
Growing
84 / 100
Growing faster than 84% of metros

Less so: outdoorsy, artsy, cozy.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Louisville/Jefferson County

Where it is, what's close by, and trails.
Where it is
Louisville/Jefferson County
Louisville/Jefferson County in Kentucky
Kentucky in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Louisville/Jefferson County area.

18
grocery stores
200+
restaurants
82
coffee shops
164
parks
200+
playgrounds
17
libraries
4
movie theaters
25
live theaters
22
museums
25
bookstores
26
gyms
152
bars
15
pharmacies
9
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Louisville/Jefferson County area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
108 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
209 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 164,384 rented homes in the Louisville/Jefferson County area, 96% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 44%
$1,000 to $1,499: 40%
$1,500 to $1,999: 12%
$2,000 to $2,499: 3%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Louisville/Jefferson County area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Kentucky: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Kentucky DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Kentucky voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

2 public school districts in this county, with about 95,635 students in all. The county also has 72 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Anchorage Independent Public SchoolCamp Taylor ElementaryCane Run ElementaryEastern HighFairdale ElementaryFern Creek ElementaryFern Creek HighGreathouse/Shryock TraditionalGreenwood ElementaryTully ElementaryAtherton HighMedora ElementaryMiddletown ElementaryOkolona ElementarySouthern HighValley HighBarret Traditional MiddleNewburg MiddleAudubon Traditional ElementaryButler Traditional HighChenoweth ElementaryHawthorne ElementaryWaggener HighBates ElementaryFairdale HighKenwood ElementaryCoral Ridge ElementaryGoldsmith ElementarySt Matthews ElementaryJeffersontown HighWilkerson Elementary SchoolWilder ElementaryStonestreet ElementaryWatterson ElementarySeneca HighPleasure Ridge Park HighIndian Trail ElementaryWestport MiddleZachary Taylor ElementaryKerrick ElementaryRangeland ElementaryDixie ElementaryCochrane ElementaryWestern HighSanders ElementarySmyrna Elementary SchoolThomas Jefferson MiddleBlue Lick ElementaryCrums Lane ElementaryBowen ElementaryHite ElementaryNorton ElementaryShacklette ElementaryMinors Lane ElementaryDoss HighSlaughter ElementaryTrunnell ElementaryBallard HighJohnsontown Road ElementaryLuhr ElementaryWheeler ElementaryGutermuth ElementaryWellington ElementaryWilt ElementaryCrosby MiddleHartstern ElementaryLayne ElementaryAuburndale ElementaryPrice ElementaryEisenhower ElementaryLassiter MiddleKlondike Lane ElementaryLaukhuf ElementaryLowe ElementaryMill Creek ElementaryBlake ElementaryDunn ElementaryKammerer MiddleKnight MiddleConway MiddleJeffersontown ElementaryCarrithers MiddleCentral High Magnet Career AcademyDr. William H. Perry Elementary SchoolAtkinson AcademyDupont Manual HighBloom ElementaryEngelhard ElementaryByck ElementaryField ElementaryBrandeis ElementaryFoster Traditional AcademyFrayser ElementaryHazelwood ElementaryHighland MiddleCochran ElementaryJacob ElementaryIroquois HighMeyzeek MiddleYoung ElementaryJefferson County Traditional MiddleKing ElementaryNoe MiddleMcferran Preparatory AcademyJohnson Traditional MiddleMaupin ElementaryPortland ElementaryLincoln Elementary Performing ArtsRutherford ElementarySemple ElementaryThe Academy @ ShawneeShelby AcademyFrederick Law Olmsted Academy NorthColeridge-Taylor Montessori ElementaryCarter Traditional ElementaryWestern Middle School for the ArtsKennedy ElementaryFrederick Law Olmsted Academy SouthStuart AcademyFarnsley MiddleSchaffner Traditional ElementaryLouisville Male HighDawson Orman Education CenterDuvalle Education CenterBreckinridge-Franklin ElementaryChancey ElementaryMarion C. Moore SchoolJ. Graham Brown SchoolFarmer ElementaryRamsey MiddleStopher ElementaryHome/HospitalGeorge Unseld Early Childhood CenterAlex R. Kennedy ElementaryNorton Commons ElementaryWestport Early Childhood CenterOutside School Day ProgramEcho Trail Middle SchoolGheens Early Childhood CenterThomas Jefferson Early Childhood CenterDr. J. Blaine Hudson Middle SchoolMercy Academy (private)Our Lady of Lourdes School (private)Presentation Academy (private)St Agnes School (private)St Albert the Great School (private)St Athanasius (private)Holy Trinity Parish School (private)Holy Spirit School (private)De Sales High School (private)Holy Cross High School/Diocese (private)Assumption High School (private)Ascenson (private)St Edward School (private)St Gabriel School (private)Trinity High School (private)St Andrew Academy (private)St Stephen Martyr School (private)St Rita Elementary School (private)St Raphael the Archangel Elementary School (private)St Margaret Mary School (private)Notre Dame Academy (private)St James Catholic School (private)St Francis of Assisi School (private)Hayfield Montessori School (private)Walden School Corporation (private)Whitefield Academy (private)Evangel Christian School (private)Academy for Individual Excellence (private)Beth Haven Christian School (private)Landmark Christian Academy (private)The De Paul School (private)Emma L. Minnis Junior Academy (private)Heuser Hearing & Language Academy (private)The Virginia Chance School (private)Sacred Heart Model School (private)Islamic School of Louisville (private)Nur Islamic School of Louisville (private)Louisville Jewish Day School (private)Valiant Christian Academy (private)Valor Traditional Academy (private)Nativity Academy at St Boniface (private)The Montessori School of Louisville (private)John Paul II Academy (private)Louisville Classical Academy (private)Highlands Latin School (private)Evangel Christian School (private)Immaculata Classical Academy (private)St Paul Catholic School (private)The Vanguard Academy (private)Portland Christian School (private)Rsm Louisville Llc (private)St Francis School (private)City Schoolhouse (private)West End School (private)Montessori Torah Academy (private)Louisville Adventist Academy (private)Our Savior Lutheran School (private)Meredith-Dunn School (private)Summit Academy of Greater Louisville (private)St Patrick School (private)Waldorf School of Louisville (private)Christ Church School (private)Harvey Browne Preschool (private)Highland Presbyterian Nursery and Weekday School (private)Keneseth Israel Preschool (private)Middletown Christian Preschool & Kindergarten (private)Friends School (private)St Michael School (private)Louisville Collegiate School (private)Louisville Jewish Day School (private)Kentucky Country Day School (private)Pitt Academy (private)SHELBY COUNTYJEFFERSON COUNTYSPENCER COUNTYBULLITT COUNTYOLDHAM COUNTYLouisville/Jefferson County
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Louisville/Jefferson County: Jefferson County School District
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Louisville/Jefferson County

Elementary
J. Graham Brown School0.3 mi
Public
grades K to 12 · 753 students · 16.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 75%, math 61% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Coleridge-Taylor Montessori Elementary0.6 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 413 students · 15.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 15 to 19%, math 6 to 9% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Engelhard Elementary1.0 mi
Public
grades K to 5 · 290 students · 13.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 15 to 19%, math 15 to 19% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Middle
J. Graham Brown School0.3 mi
Public
grades K to 12 · 753 students · 16.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 75%, math 61% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Meyzeek Middle1.0 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 896 students · 17.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 58%, math 54% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Dr. J. Blaine Hudson Middle School1.6 mi
Public
grade 6 · 279 students · 13.3 per teacher
High school
J. Graham Brown School0.3 mi
Public
grades K to 12 · 753 students · 16.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 75%, math 61% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Central High Magnet Career Academy0.7 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,239 students · 15.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 43%, math 27% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Dupont Manual High2.1 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,922 students · 17.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 85%, math 78% (state: reading 45%, math 38%)
Private
St Francis School0.5 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 388 students · 7.6 per teacher
Presentation Academy0.7 mi
Private
grades 9 to 12 · 165 students · 6.4 per teacher
Nativity Academy at St Boniface0.8 mi
Private
grades 6 to 8 · 56 students · 9.5 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Louisville/Jefferson County, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Kentucky's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Jefferson County · Louisville
95,230 students · 15.7 students per teacher · 168 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Anchorage Independent · Anchorage
405 students · 10.7 students per teacher · 1 school · grades Pre-K to 8

School choice and pre-K in Kentucky

Going to school in another district
State law says districts must accept students from other districts when they have room, under set rules. Ask the district you'd like about space and deadlines.
Picking a different school in your district
State law doesn't set a rule for switching schools within a district; it's up to each district.
Free state pre-K
26% of 4-year-olds and 8% of 3-year-olds in Kentucky attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Kentucky keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$216/week
about $11,200 a year
$118/week
about $6,100 a year
Toddler (2)$184/week
about $9,600 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$184/week
about $9,600 a year
$96/week
about $5,000 a year
School-age$173/week
about $9,000 a year

For an infant at a center: $216/week here, $160 across KY, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 13% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in Kentucky →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

6 colleges in the county around Louisville/Jefferson County. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

University of Louisville · Louisville
Public, 4-year · 22,139 students · $12,828 in-state, $29,174 out-of-state
Jefferson Community and Technical College · Louisville
Public, 2-year (community college) · 12,574 students · $4,706 in-state, $6,242 out-of-state
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary · Louisville
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 4,243 students · $13,086 a year
Bellarmine University · Louisville
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,993 students · $46,780 a year
Spalding University · Louisville
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,555 students · $27,672 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$278,562
What a typical home sells for across the Louisville/Jefferson County area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 7% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $93 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 93.1 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
24 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
2 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 3.4 miles from the town center (Flexential). The largest is about 37,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $4,042 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in KY. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
9 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
30.2 per 100,000 people a year
240 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. KY average: 23.7 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 23.1 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 1,831 people without housing in the Louisville-Jefferson County area: 1,198 in shelters and 633 outside, up from 1,728 in 2024. KY: 12.6 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Unemployment
4.2%
The share of people looking for work who can't find it, averaged over the year. U.S.: about 4%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
Median household income
$67,849
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.85% of home value a year
About $850 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 3.50%
KY's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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