Why Move to Louisville (and Why Not)

10 Reasons to Relocate to Louisville 

The home of the Kentucky Derby, the Louisville Slugger and some of the best bourbon distilleries in the world, there are plenty of pros of living in Louisville. Bourbon City is a warm and vibrant metro on the Indiana border, and this Ohio River town now has an urban population of 246,000 — the largest in the state — and a metro area population of nearly 1.5 million. With four true seasons and a million ways to get out and enjoy them — outdoors and in — lots of people are betting on this spot in Kentucky as their new home. Here are our top 10 reasons to move to Louisville. 

1. Housing is Affordable  

If you’re thinking of moving to the largest city in Kentucky, you may be wondering: is Louisville expensive? Newcomers to Bourbon City will be delighted to discover the price of real estate in Louisville is lower than other popular Southern cities like Nashville and Atlanta. According to the U.S. Census, the median home value in Louisville was just $233,900 — more than $100,000 less than the current U.S. figure and $200,000 below homes in metro Nashville and Atlanta. 

Renters in Louisville also have it easier. The median gross rent in Atlanta tops $1,700/month and Nashville isn’t far behind. But the Louisville median isn’t even $1,100/month. 

The lower cost of living in Louisville may be especially appealing to younger professionals, first-time homebuyers or individuals contemplating retirement.  

2. The Economy is Stable 

Louisville’s flood waters may rise and fall, but its local economy is holding steady in 2025. Thanks to the city’s riverways, railways and roadways, Bourbon City has long been a distribution hub, with easy access to a dozen major cities across the Southeast and Midwest. Louisville’s current strengths lie across a variety of industries, from industrial to agricultural and professional, where household names like UPS, Humana, GE, Ford and Yum! brands all have major operations. The University of Louisville and other colleges in the area provide a range of interesting occupations and essential training for the workforce, too. So there are numerous career paths for those working in Louisville.  

Louisville’s unemployment rate stood at 4.3% in June 2025 — a hair above the U.S. average — and most of the largest industries held their ground or saw modest gains. Trade, transportation and utilities, which supports nearly 167,000 jobs, rose 1.8%. Education and health services grew by 2.9%, for a total of 113,400 jobs. And professional and business services remained in the black with 88,400 workers, as did manufacturing with its 86,700 positions. The government, the tourism industry and the finance sector are all key suppliers of Louisville jobs. 

3. Eclectic Neighborhoods 

This river city is jammed with cool neighborhoods, from Portland to the University district to Butchertown (semantics: the former meatpacking district that’s been transformed into a trendy-but-friendly spot overlooking the Ohio River). 

Some of the city’s truest architectural charms, though, are concentrated in Old Louisville, a central region known for its red brick beauties and stately stone mansions, some of which have been converted into multifamily condos and apartments.  

In the artsy district known as NuLu, Market Street is crowded with restaurants, giving downtown gallery-hoppers a walkable destination after exhibition openings. The aptly named Schnitzelburg and Germantown still bear the hallmarks of the first immigrants from Deutschland more than two centuries ago — and cozy, colorful clapboard homes here reign supreme.  

No matter what you decide the best place to live in Louisville is, you’ll definitely have reason to roam here. In the sections below, learn about our favorite places to eat and meet in Louisville when you’re out and about.  

4. Lots of Outdoor Recreation 

Perched on the banks of the Ohio River amongst Kentucky’s bluegrass hills, Bourbon City is built for folks who enjoy outdoor adventures. In fact, among all the horseback riding, paddling, hiking and biking, you may never run out of outdoor things to do in Louisville. 

Some of the biggest outdoor fun in the region is within the many parks of Louisville. The city’s original park system was designed by none other than Frederick Law Olmstead — who created NYC’s Central Park — and Louisville’s Parklands have matured into one of the country’s most impressive collection of green spaces.  

Cyclists can get their thrills at the Silo Center Bike Park in Turkey Run, which has pump tracks, skills loops and flow trails for all levels. If you’re in the mood for a longer ride, hit the Louisville Loop, a 19-mile paved pathway that will eventually circumscribe the city in 100 miles of trails.  

You don’t even have to leave the city to go hiking in Louisville. Cherokee Park has a 2.3-mile woodland loop and numerous points of interest, from the Daniel Boone statue to the archery range and Hogan’s Fountain, a favorite watering hole for four-legged friends. Iroquois Park has a 3.5-mile path along Rundill Road, and you’ll be treated to a panoramic overlook at the north end, where there’s also a golf course. At Beckley Creek Park, you can even hike yourself out to a popular fishing hole, where shade trees fill the mirrored surface of the lake — an especially dazzling sight in the fall.  

Kids will clamor to visit Algonquin Park, where you’ll find a zero-depth pool and enough slides to keep them occupied all day. But if you really want to get out on the water, sign up with a local outfitter who can get you acquainted with the best spots for paddling, from Beargrass Creek to the Ohio River itself.  

5. Sports Rule, Despite No Major Team 

While the NFL, the NBA and MLB are what most people call to mind when they think of pro sports, Louisville residents see a different kind of game: horse racing. As the home of the “most exciting 2 minutes in sports,” Churchill Downs has made Louisville an international icon of the sport, and the Derby is the city’s own garland of roses. You can learn more about the history of the event at the Kentucky Derby Museum or learn to ride a horse yourself at one of the many farms and stables in the area.  

But traditional sports fans, take heart — you can still go out to a ballgame here. The minor-league Louisville Bats sure know how to crack theirs at Louisville Slugger Field, as do the University of Louisville Cardinals. Professional soccer makes use of the state’s signature bluegrass at Louisville City FC games. You’ll find them at the Lynn Family Stadium in Butchertown. 

6. The Kentucky Derby 

Known the world over for the hallowed ground of Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby is the embodiment of horse culture in Louisville. Every spring since 1875, the Downs have welcomed visitors in to watch — and bet big on — the three-year-old thoroughbreds in their ten-furlong sprint for victory. And each year, 150,000 spectators come dressed to the nines for this event of the year, sporting their smartest threads and most spectacular hats to sip mint juleps and hope for a win. Leading up to the races, the Downs hosts numerous events during Derby Week, including Dawn at the Downs, where you can watch the horses and athletes train, and 502’sDay, which celebrates the best of local culture in Louisville’s 502 area code.  

But you don’t even have to set foot at the Downs to be a part of Derby fever. The Kentucky Derby Festival packs a year’s worth of fun into a couple of weeks, including the fireworks spectacular known as Thunder. Other events are racing-centric, like the marathon, the hot air balloon race and the Great Bed Race, which sounds exactly as hilarious as it is. 

7. An Underground Culinary Scene 

From the inspired caffeinated beverages of Phalcha Coffee in Germantown to the legendary cocktails mixed with Bourbon City’s home brews in Butchertown, dining in Louisville is always a delight.  

Some of the city’s most famous dishes are its humblest. Take the Hot Brown, an open-faced sandwich invented in the wee hours at The Brown Hotel to feed ravenous, inebriated guests. Turkey, bacon, tomatoes and rich Mornay sauce make this 1920 Louisville classic one that will last into the next century and beyond. As long as residents keep drinking whiskey, at least.  

Speaking of which, the entire Bluegrass region of Kentucky is known for its rich brown liquor, but none more so than Louisville. The famous downtown block — known as Whiskey Row — only narrowly avoided demolition 15 years ago, and when you see the gorgeous, 19th-century storefronts and brickwork, you’ll be more than glad this historic architecture was spared the wrecking ball. As far as drinking the stuff goes, Hell or Highwater is our speakeasy of choice, with its plush velvet booths, live jazz and moody pours like the Kind of Blue, which blends Michter’s with sherry and a broody, blueberry-thyme syrup.  

Southern staples like fried oysters and pork chops get a glow-up at one of Louisville’s longest-running establishments, Jack Fry’s, where the bourbon-pecan olive oil cake will make you weep bourbon-smoked tears, just like the sea salt that punches up its whiskey caramel.  

But it’s not all Southern staples that get the glory in this town. Newcomers like MeeshMeesh — now one of our favorite Louisville restaurants — have made NuLu a Mediterranean mecca, one that got a James Beard nod in 2025. The building’s orange and yellow trimmings play on the Arabic and Hebrew name for apricot, and the warmth and elegance of the interiors center the shared devotion to hospitality of both local and Levantine cultures. 

8. Location, Location, Location 

Located on the southeastern banks of the Ohio on Kentucky-Indiana border, Louisville has always had a geographic advantage in the U.S. Twelve major cities from two separate regions are within a one-day drive, from Nashville and Atlanta to Indianapolis, Chicago and even Detroit. Cincinnati is less than two hours away. When you really want to get out of town, the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport can take you to nearly 40 destinations non-stop. 

Louisville is easily accessed by I-64, I-65 and I-71. 

9. Rich History and Cultural Attractions 

With a killer live music scene, cool art galleries and hundreds of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Louisville culture is rich, varied and creative. Community events like Kentuckiana Pride, WorldFest and the Cherokee Triangle Art Fair have been going strong for decades, and if anything is true about Louisville, it’s that it’s a city that knows how to bring people together.  

As a newcomer, you might be interested in exploring the history of Louisville to get better acquainted with the city. A great place to start is at the Frazier History Museum, where you’ll be introduced to some of the city’s biggest brags, like being the bastion of bourbon and the birthplace of folks like Merriwether Lewis Clark — the founder of Churchill Downs and grandson of explorer William Clark— and Muhammad Ali. You can get the deep cut on this boxing legend at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville’s Museum Row, where you’ll also find the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the Kentucky Science Center, the Louisville Orchestra and the KMAC Museum, which is dedicated to contemporary art.  

Art-lovers will also want to visit the Speed Museum which has an exceptional permanent collection and presents exciting temporary exhibitions, like the series of shows on Louisville’s Black Avant-Garde, Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Rooms and an installation by renowned painter Sam Gilliam, who was raised in the city. 

10. Small Town Vibes 

Bourbon City may be Kentucky’s largest, but the people of Louisville are just so darn friendly that you’ll never feel the isolation that often comes with big-city life. The energetic charm of Louisville is one of its biggest assets, and it breeds a strong sense of civic duty and community engagement. If you’re looking for a place that’s ready to welcome you as one of their own, Louisville is the horse to bet on.  

The Other Side of Louisville: What to Keep in Mind 

Okay, not everything is a garland of roses in the home of the Kentucky Derby. But nobody’s perfect, right? Here are a few potential cons of living in Louisville. 

It’s Tough for People with Allergies 

Ahhhh-choo! We cannot conceal our disdain for Louisville’s allergens. Unlike the downsides of horse-betting and Bourbon-drinking, it’s hard to avoid ragweed and mold, but the pollen here is one of the worst. That beautiful bluegrass produces more yellow stuff than other grasses, which is why the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America has consistently ranked Louisville on its Allergy Capitals list. But how bad are allergies in Louisville? Well, in the 20-teens, the city was at the very top of this list, but in 2025 it was only ranked 69th. Based on the number of tissue boxes we go through in spring and fall, we’re not sure that things are better in Louisville, or just much worse elsewhere. No matter how you look at it, Louisville could certainly benefit from a citywide HEPA filter during pollen season.  

Wet, Sticky Summers 

In between allergy seasons, there are Louisville’s hot, sticky summers to look forward to. Although there are four true seasons to enjoy here, the weather in Louisville does have its ugly side.  

Expect highs in the 90s F — or even the triple-digits — from June through August. Very high dew points ensure nothing dries out in the summer months — neither skin, laundry nor your humor. You’ll also have to keep an eye out for severe weather, like flooding, which has plagued the city since its inception, and thunderstorms, which can be severe. 

Limited Public Transit 

While Louisville’s public transit system — the TARC — offers a pretty robust network of buses, there is no light rail service here, making Louisville a pretty car-dependent city. The average commute time for Jefferson County residents is just over 22 minutes, so driving in Louisville isn’t the nightmare that it can be in other Southern cities. (Sorry, Atlanta.) 

If you’re planning on getting around Louisville on two wheels, the city is not well-equipped for bike commuters. The number of workers commuting by bike in Louisville has gone down since 2024, and though the city is making investments into more connected pathways and protected bike lanes, progress has been slow.  

Additional FAQs About Relocating to Louisville 

Is Louisville a good place to live for families? 

Louisville has lots of family-friendly activities, from cultural hubs like Museum Row to incredible city parks with pools, splashpads, bike trails and disc golf courses. Community festivals almost always have activities for children.  

What is healthcare in Louisville like? 

Louisville residents are served by several medical providers, including Norton Healthcare and UofL Health, which manages over a dozen area hospitals and medical centers and employs 1,200 medical professionals. 

Is living in Louisville like the rest of Kentucky? 

Because Louisville is Kentucky’s biggest city, there are more cultural amenities and a wider range of job opportunities than you’ll find in the state’s smaller cities and towns. The atmosphere is buzzier, and the number of tourists is higher, too. 

How is education in Louisville? 

According to the U.S. News & World Report, Kentucky’s top two public high schools are in Louisville. The city is also home to several colleges — including the UofL — and the University of Kentucky is only 90 minutes away in Lexington.   

Let United Van Lines Get You There 

Are you ready to move to Bourbon City? Working with United’s nationwide network of professional movers can make your relocation a snap. We’ve moved close to a million families in the last hundred years. Since our founding in 1928, we’ve earned the honor of being America’s #1 Mover®, and we can help you move to any city across the U.S.  

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Planning on moving cross-country to Louisville? United Van Lines’ professional network of long-distance movers can make all the difference. You’ll access all the information about your move to Louisville through the MyUnited Move Portal. Our full-service moving packages can include custom services like vehicle transport, packing and unpacking, storage services and even removing moving debris.  

No matter how far you’re going, follow these tips for a smooth long-distance move. Need help understanding the types of moving quotes you’ve received? We can help you unpack the average cost of a long-distance move and take the stress out of relocating.   

Making a local move within Kentucky? If you’re planning a move within the Bluegrass state — including one from another part of Louisville or Jefferson County, United’s interstate Louisville agents/movers can provide local moving services in the region under their own businesses and brands. 

Want to plan a DIY move? See what going it alone might be like.  

How does Louisville differ from other popular American cities? Take a look. United Van Lines offers 50+ moving guides to U.S. cities and states, as well as a suite of guides to the national parks. 

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