Best suburbs in Louisville

Published 7:01 pm Thursday, April 25, 2024

Best suburbs in Louisville

The GI Bill of Rights, Ike’s interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.

Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023. But a good location comes with a cost.

A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.

What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.

Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in Louisville. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.

Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in Louisville.


Father giving piggyback ride to his daughter while walking outside.

Akarawut // Shutterstock

#14. Orchard Grass Hills, Kentucky

– Population: 1,937
– Median home value: $251,400
– Median rental price: $1,688

– Top schools nearby: Kenwood Station Elementary School (grade A), South Oldham Middle School (grade A), Crestwood Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+), Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A−
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

Young man and little girl laughing with ice cream.

YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

#13. Audubon Park, Kentucky

– Population: 1,412
– Median home value: $329,800
– Median rental price: $910

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+), Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B+
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

Happy family with child and shopping cart buying food at grocery store.

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#12. Buckner, Kentucky

– Population: 3,658
– Median home value: $350,600
– Median rental price: $1,850

– Top schools nearby: Buckner Elementary School (grade A), Oldham County Middle School (grade A−), Oldham County High School (grade B+)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+), Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: B−

A group of young children getting on the schoolbus.

Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#11. St. Matthews, Kentucky

– Population: 17,511
– Median home value: $307,400
– Median rental price: $1,198

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: A−

Boy learning to ride a bicycle with his father in park.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#10. Hurstbourne, Kentucky

– Population: 4,654
– Median home value: $544,900
– Median rental price: $1,555

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B−
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

Two woman in small town downtown laughing.

Laura Beach // Shutterstock

#9. Crestwood, Kentucky

– Population: 6,175
– Median home value: $335,700
– Median rental price: $1,093

– Top schools nearby: Kenwood Station Elementary School (grade A), Camden Station Elementary School (grade A), South Oldham Middle School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

Staff serving a customer in a busy coffee shop.

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Pewee Valley, Kentucky

– Population: 1,514
– Median home value: $450,000
– Median rental price: $1,074

– Top schools nearby: Kenwood Station Elementary School (grade A), South Oldham Middle School (grade A), Crestwood Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+), Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: B

Shot of a smiling senior couple taking together in a cafe.

PeopleImages.com – Yuri A // Shutterstock

#7. Indian Hills, Kentucky

– Population: 2,891
– Median home value: $638,800
– Median rental price: $No data available

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: A−

A family playing soccer together.

Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock

#6. Windy Hills, Kentucky

– Population: 2,193
– Median home value: $355,100
– Median rental price: $2,362

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: A−

Happy young family sitting in a park.

Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock

#5. Goshen, Kentucky

– Population: 1,037
– Median home value: $268,700
– Median rental price: $2,148

– Top schools nearby: North Oldham Middle School (grade A), North Oldham High School (grade A), Harmony Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+), Francis Parker School of Louisville (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: A−

Happy family in backyard with dog.

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#4. Prospect, Kentucky

– Population: 4,624
– Median home value: $470,400
– Median rental price: $1,147

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), North Oldham Middle School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B+
— Outdoor activities grade: A−

Back view of a little girl on fathers shoulders and mom walking alongside.

F8 studio // Shutterstock

#3. Northfield, Kentucky

– Population: 1,106
– Median home value: $469,200
– Median rental price: $1,335

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

Little boy running with his dog on a leash.

FamVeld // Shutterstock

#2. Beechwood Village, Kentucky

– Population: 1,302
– Median home value: $324,600
– Median rental price: $996

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A), Louisville Male High School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B+
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

Senior couple on walk with a dog.

PeopleImages.com – Yuri A // Shutterstock

#1. Anchorage, Kentucky

– Population: 2,419
– Median home value: $749,000
– Median rental price: $1,802

– Top schools nearby: DuPont Manual High School (grade A+), Anchorage Independent Public School (grade A+), J. Graham Brown School (grade A)
– Top private schools nearby: Kentucky Country Day School (grade A+), Louisville Collegiate School (grade A+), Walden School (grade A+)

– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Weather grade: B−
— Cost of living grade: B−
— Outdoor activities grade: B+

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.