While outsiders may best know Louisville as March Madness heaven, Louisville is low-key a foodie town. While the tourists are 100% going to be downtown on the main drag, you’ll find a crapload of amazing restaurants and drink spots even just off the downtown center. Nulu, or “New Louisville” is best known for its growing number of local restaurants. Or if Farmer’s Markets are your thing, hit up Douglass Loop on a Saturday with friends!

Unless you live in “walker’s paradise,” AKA the central business district, you’ll need a car. Almost all residents in Louisville rely on their own transportation, and parking downtown for a night out can be expensive and a headache to find on a busy night.


The food and drinks!

LookyLOO Review of Louisville?

Louisville is often described as a dense suburb and for valid reasons in regards to both the good and the bad. A plethora of parks, the aforementioned emphasis on local restaurants and bars as centers of social life, and moderate politics are also representative of that suburban atmosphere. Sprawl is a downside, and so is the fact that there’s not too much to do socially in addition to those restaurants and bars. While the weather is notorious for oscillating between 90 and humid and 36 and rainy, people in Louisville are generally regarded as friendly and hospitable. 

In addition to these staples of suburbia, Louisville has a number of amenities that living in a normal suburb does not afford. Louisville is the home of iconic world sports sites like the famous Kentucky Derby, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, and is where March Madness has been historically held. Louisville is also known for its live music, and, of course, it's bourbon. Be sure to hit up a festival and try some of Kentucky’s favorite whiskey if you do ever move in or are simply passing through.

If you're interested in seeing what locals get up to in Louisville check out the [calendar of events](https://www.gotolouisville.com/events-calendar/). 

Lifestyle 

The Louisville area is home to a surprising number of large companies that you probably didn’t know were located there if you aren’t from Louisville. Texas Roadhouse and Yum! Brands (which operates brands such as KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut) are both headquartered in the area, and Papa Johns is just a quick hop over the Ohio River in Jefferson, Indiana. If you can’t see yourself working in big food, that’s alright, because large healthcare companies like Humana and Kindred Healthcare, as well as a wide variety of new companies popping up downtown provide a diverse range of options for Louisvillians. Most people in the Louisville area work in person and commute via car.  Housing prices are well under the national average, so families and young professionals alike tend to live in larger and more comfortable situations than they would be able to in larger metropolitan areas.


Worklife 

Louisville public schools are part of the [Jefferson County School District](https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/). As with most middle to big cities the quality of the public schools in the district varies, and it receives a [**"B" grade on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/jefferson-county-public-schools-ky/). The district scores highest for College Prep and Clubs & Activities. 

The highest-scoring schools are pretty spread out but the north and northeast sides of the city seem to have a few high performers. 

The Top Schools in the area include:
-[**DuPont Manual High School**](dupontmanual.com) ranks highest among all public high schools in the state, receiving an [**"A+" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/dupont-manual-high-school-louisville-ky/?map). It is most highly regarded for Academics and College Prep and is the state's premier magnet school. 
-Louisville Male High School is another high-ranking magnet school, receiving an [**"A" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/louisville-male-high-school-louisville-ky/?map) and is listed as the 3rd best magnet school in the state. 
-[**J. Graham Brown School**](https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/page/j-graham-brown-school) is another pearl in the public school system in Louisville. It's rated the #3 best public high school in the state and clocks in at an [**"A" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/j-graham-brown-school-louisville-ky/). 



Schools

Louisville, besides being underrated as a foodie town, is just underrated in general. It has a lower cost of living and a quaint college-town feel. Settle in, grab a Hot Brown and let’s do this!

Underrated

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**artful_todger_502**
Living in Louisville
8mo ago
✭✭✭✭

I've lived in places from Vermont to Florida and unpacked here. Absolutely the best place I've ever lived. I'm originally from Philly, meanest city on the earth, so I've been around.

But, we have our unfortunate issues as every city does, but the good far outweighs the bad for me.

With me personally, all those places I've lived, the ones ive had an expectation for, are there ones that let me down.

So I would suggest if you/me/anyone were to look here, don't think it will be a magic panacea to fix your life, but try to focus on what it has, which to me, weird, leftie art appreciator, is great culture and great people. Always something to do.

For more reviews of what living in Louisville is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/louisville/reviews).

Sweet but Almost no Walkability.

Reviews of Louisville from Locals

**The Best Thing About Louisville?**  The food and drinks!

While Louisville may best be known by outsiders as March Madness heaven, Louisville is lowkey a foodie town. While the tourists are 100% going to be downtown on the main drag, you’ll find a ton of amazing restaurants and drink spots even just off the downtown scene. Nulu, or “New Louisville” is best known for it’s growing number of local restaurants. Or if Farmer’s Markets are your thing, hit up Douglass Loop on a Saturday with friends!

**The Worst Thing About Louisville?**  Almost no walkability

Unless you live in “walker’s paradise,” AKA the central business district, you’ll need a car. Almost all residents in Louisville rely on their own transportation, and parking downtown for a night out can be expensive and a headache to find on a busy night. 

**How You Living?**  Neighborhood Pride!

Because of the low walkability of Louisville, most people pick a neighborhood they feel at home in! If you’re looking for the new trendy spot, stick to Nulu or the East Market. If you are feeling college town vibes, check out Old Louisville; just south of downtown, it’s known for its Victorian Homes and proximity to the University of Louisville. Similar to the Highlands, Germantown is a family favorite with shotgun houses, an eclectic mix of local businesses and a small-town feel!

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**  

Louisville, besides being underrated as a foodie town, is just underrated in general. It has a lower cost of living and a quaint college-town feel. Settle in, grab a Hot Brown and let’s do this!


Louisville sits on the northern central border of Kentucky and Indiana, with Indianapolis directly north, Cincinnati north east, Lexington east, and Nashville a decent drive south. Because Louisville sits on the Ohio River, the city layout is going to be similar to other cities that lay on a large lake or river (like Detroit), in that the downtown area is on the water, one side of the city stretches along that same body of water, and the neighborhoods and highways fan out from there (south and south east in Louisville’s case). From a map, it looks like Louisville covers a lot of area, but there are multiple small cities inside Louisville city limits that…aren’t actually Louisville. Take St. Matthews for instance. A lot of locals will recommend St. Matthews for people who have kids because the area has really great schools and, even though you’re only about a 15 minute drive to downtown, St. Matthews not Louisville.

The Area

Louisville is huge for colleges and universities, the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University being the largest in the area. There are great restaurants, bars, and a ton of student discounts to support the city’s love for the college students who live there. If you’re looking for amazing nightlife and even better restaurants, look no further than The Highlands. Known as “Restaurant Row", it’s a popular spot for late-night eats, but it also has amazing shops and plenty of parks for weekends enjoying the nice weather!
- The Highlands
- Germantown
- Clifton


College Students

The Highlands

Young professionals relocating to Louisville are going to love the city’s perfect combination of city life and low cost of living. A great neighborhood to start your search in is Clifton. It’s affordable, walkable (to an extent), and has a ton of locally owned restaurants and thrift shops. It’s also close to other great neighborhoods like The Highlands and Nulu, so you can switch up late-night spots!
- Clifton
- The Highlands
- Crescent Hill
- Downtown


Young Professionals

Clifton

If you’re looking to relocate to Louisville and you’re without kids, you have to check out Crescent Hill. There are a ton of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars to hang out at. The area is also super dog friendly, so if your family leans furry, you’ve got no problems here. You’ll have plenty of amazing days going out to Eggs for brunch, browsing new titles at Carmichael’s Bookstore, and grabbing takeout at Simply Mediterranean.
- Crescent Hill
- Nulu
- The Highlands


DINKs/SINKs

Crescent Hill

The city of Louisville leans liberal/progressive and has a ton of neighborhoods that are LGBTQ+ friendly. It was even the first and only city in the state to earn a perfect score on the MEI (the Human Rights Campaign 2017 Municipal Equality Index). This means that the city was evaluated on how inclusive the laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live in the city. There are plenty of great neighborhoods, minutes from downtown, where you can find a great place. Besides our personal favorite, Old Louisville, there’s Smoketown, Germantown, and Clifton, to name a few. If you start your search in Old Louisville, you’ll be just a couple minutes from downtown and close to Central Park– perfect for enjoying summer picnics and concerts. Be sure to check out the gorgeous historic homes and you won’t be disappointed!
- Old Louisville
- Germantown
- Clifton


LGBTQ+

Old Louisville

Louisville is a great intermediate city to raise a family in. It’s not too big, but it’s not a small town. The thing to know if you plan on having kids in the city is that the schools do run on the lottery system, even public ones. For public schools in the city, you’ve given a list of schools that are in your approximate area, you rank them from most interested to least, and then you’re assigned a school. Locals say you often get your school of choice, but it is something to keep in mind! Start your search in the St Matthews, where you can find amazing shopping, movie theaters, and gorgeous single-family homes. 
- St. Matthews
- Seneca Gardens
- Shively


Families

St. Matthews

Louisville

**artful_todger_502**
Living in Louisville
8mo ago
✭✭✭✭

I've lived in places from Vermont to Florida and unpacked here. Absolutely the best place I've ever lived. I'm originally from Philly, meanest city on the earth, so I've been around.

But, we have our unfortunate issues as every city does, but the good far outweighs the bad for me.

With me personally, all those places I've lived, the ones ive had an expectation for, are there ones that let me down.

So I would suggest if you/me/anyone were to look here, don't think it will be a magic panacea to fix your life, but try to focus on what it has, which to me, weird, leftie art appreciator, is great culture and great people. Always something to do.


**Louisville vs. Atlanta?**

**lexprofile**
Living in Louisville
1y ago
✭✭✭

I grew up here and briefly considered moving to Atlanta. I have friends down there and between all my visits have probably spent close to a year there by now.

Louisville is scaled down from Atlanta in almost every way. We have a few smell stretches of road that rival the perimeter, but they are the exception. Personally I think we’re closing the gap when it comes to food and entertainment. For a while it felt stagnant here and I swore I’d never settle down after college. Around the time I considered moving, Louisville seemed to be developing in ways that were meaningful to me. So I stuck around and am happy here.

Climate wise, it’s really not that different. Summer is in full swing by June and we don’t really get Fall until late October. It can get bitter for a couple weeks in January but things start warming up in February.

Some things we have that Atlanta does not - easily accessible nature trails and a surplus of Bourbon distilleries. We’re also centrally located between Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Nashville. All of which are about a 2 hour drive - which isn’t much if you’re accustomed to Atlanta travel times.

**What do you wish you knew before moving to Louisville?**

anonymous
Living in Louisville
1y ago
✭✭✭✭

Edited 1y ago
I moved here from nyc originally and I was surprised at how liberal this city is (in the right parts) like yes you can drive for 30 minutes and end up in small town Kentucky but walkable city neighborhoods like germantown and old louisville and the highlands are very openly progressive, pride posters, my favorite coffee shop has free plan b in the bathroom etc

Biking seems a little sketchy because people here truly do drive their cars more aggressively than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. but if you stick to smaller streets and have lights and a helmet you’ll probably do ok, it’s just city biking so it’s always going to be scarier than like small town biking

Walking is pretty good there are sidewalks everywhere as long as you’re not out in the burbs

Germantown is Bushwick btw

Cherokee park is park slope

Highlands are Williamsburg

Clifton is greenpoint (minus the pollocks, ugh no Polish food anywhere)

Shelby park is bed stuy but like 5-10 years ago

People here are super friendly, I think it’s a Midwest thing? Everyone says hi on the streets, my neighbors all talk to me etc

Everyone talks shit on Indiana and it’s hilarious because the rest of the country talks shit on Kentucky but once you live here for like 3 months you’ll inexplicably think Indiana is really lame just warning you

Is Louisville a good place to live right now? particularly for LGBTQ+ community?

**anonymous**
Living in Louisville
2y ago
✭✭✭

I'll answer your question more directly. I think yes, this city is generally accepting of the LGBT community and I've met gay/queer Asian people who like it here and have made it home. I'm white and gay and have really enjoyed my last few years here.

I get where others say 'move to a blue state', which I would say generally yes do that, but that's not what you asked. This city has good bones, I think it will grow a lot in the future due to affordability issues in other cities. However the gay community here can be kind of cliquish, but I think almost all gay communities tend to be just due to the nature of society. It's changed drastically in the past couple of decades though as more people have came out and the LGBT population grows.

If saving money and having access to some city amenities you'd have back in LA is what you need, absolutely move. Political and loftier ideals aside, sometimes financial reasons are entirely acceptable reasons to move even to red states. I could not imagine living in California and not making at least $200,000 a year, it would be miserable, a lot of people in the center of the country don't understand what's going on out there.

Louisville, Kentucky

Southern Comfort with Midwest Practicality

Looklyloo Score: 90