The first things that come to mind when you hear Louisville (pronounced LOO-a-vul—make sure you get that right), are probably the Kentucky Derby and the birthplace of bourbon. But there’s so much more to the largest city in Kentucky, especially for growing families. A combination of high quality of life, affordable cost of living, and a variety of events, amenities, and fun family activities makes it perfect for adults and children. If you’re looking for a city with a small town, family friendly vibe with all the benefits of a big city, Louisville should be on your list of potential places to put down roots.
1. Easy on the Wallet
With cost of living shooting up across America, it’s hard to raise a big family. But in Louisville, your family will be able to save a ton on the important things with a cost of living that is 8 percent lower than the national average.
2. Affordable Real Estate
One of the best parts of Louisville’s reasonable cost of living is just how affordable the housing market is. The median cost for homes in Louisville is $180,000, which is way below the national average of $249,000. Rent is equally affordable at just $866 per month.
3. Beautiful (but Windy) Summers
While Louisville definitely has some cold, snowy winters, the summers make it all worth it. The weather is perfect in the summer, with temperatures averaging in the high 70s and plenty of gorgeous sunny days to soak up all the outdoor activities the city has to offer. The only downside is that the number of tornadoes in Kentucky are increasing. But the locals are so used to tornadoes that they generally view them the way the rest of America views thunderstorms.
4. Quality Education
Louisville has some great schools that range from public to private and magnet to charter schools. On GreatSchools, many of the schools in the area rank a 7 or higher on a scale from 1 to 10. Additionally, the average student-to-teacher ratio in Louisville is a comfortable 16-to-1, which is right on par with the national average. You can be assured that your child will get plenty of care and attention throughout their academic experiences.
5. Employment Opportunities
In 2020, Glassdoor ranked Louisville as the 13th best city in America for jobs, beating out big names like Chicago, Austin, and the heart of Silicon Valley San Jose. So if you’re headed to Louisville and are on the search for a job or looking to branch out into a new career path, you’re definitely going in the right direction.
6. Keep Your Kids Active
Louisville has tons of opportunities for your kids to engage in youth sports and athletics. There are plenty of youth leagues in the area, including football, soccer, baseball, and basketball leagues. Check out the Northeast Family YMCA for some great health education, nutrition, and athletics programs for kids, as well as the Highview Youth Sports center, which has been running youth athletics programs in the area since 1972. They have everything from baseball to cheerleading, and are a great resource in the community for youth sports.
7. Unlock Wonder at the Kentucky Science Center
The Kentucky Science Center in Louisville is an amazing place for children and families. It is the state’s largest hands-on science museum and it brings science to life for people of all ages. They have several programs tailored to children as young as newborns, as well as young adults and adults up to 19. Tip: The museum frequently has free public events for the whole family. Check their calendar regularly for details.
8. Delicious Southern Desserts
The Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen is going to be a place that your family frequents often. All their pies, cakes, cookies, and ice creams are homemade from scratch. Do yourself and your kids a favor and get the caramel Dutch apple pie with a side of peanut butter fudge ice cream.
9. Thunder (and Light) Over Louisville
Every year, Louisville kicks off the Kentucky Derby by hosting a fireworks show that captivates kids and adults alike. The opening ceremony event, Thunder Over Louisville, was rated one of the top 100 events in North America. As part of another great Louisville tradition, the Derby Festival, the entire event is filled with fun and games for the whole family. So on opening night, be sure to check out one of the nation’s largest annual fireworks shows.
10. Beautiful Parks Make for Outdoor Fun
It’s no secret that the parks in Louisville are gorgeous. There are more than 120 public parks in the metro area alone, many of which were designed by the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York City, Frederick Law Olmstead. Among the beautiful parks are places like Iroquois Park, a 739-acre municipal park with gorgeous views of the city. But Cherokee Park and Waterfront Park are also local favorites to explore, picnic, bike, or jog.
11. The Louisville Children’s Museum
Children love exploring the exhibits at the Louisville Children’s Museum. There’s an aquarium with opportunities to get up close to sea life, as well as hands-on exhibits that encourage children’s creativity on top of being educational. The museum has educational programs on topics ranging from health and nutrition to world communities and animal habitats. There’s even a “mobile museum” that brings exhibits to schools and events, as well as public events that are inclusive of all ages.
12. Cool Off at Louisville’s Spraygrounds
Louisville combats its hot southern summers with tons of free splash pads and spraygrounds for the whole family to cool off. Check out Algonquin Park, Baxter Square, or Elliot Square. Most of the splash pads are also right near grassy fields, picnic tables, and playgrounds so it’s definitely a way to get out of the house and enjoy all-day fun in the sun!
13. Go Wild At Louisville Zoo
In the heart of Louisville sits a 134-acre zoo that has some of the wildest, most fun, and exciting attractions in the area. Get up close and personal with elephants, rhinos, giraffes, monkeys, and a white alligator. There are always great events for the whole family all year round, like their Movie Night Series, Storybook Character Day, or Action Hero Day.
14. The Freshest Heartland Produce
What’s better than delicious, reasonably priced, healthy and locally sourced food? Nothing! And there’s no better place to buy this kind of local produce than Louisville. Louisville has some excellent, hugely popular farmers markets like the Douglass Loop Farmers Market and Bardstown Road Farmers Market.
15. Plenty of Opportunities to Make a Splash
Not only is the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center a great place for kids to learn how to swim, it has an indoor pool open to the public, as well as fitness programs for youth and families. And if that wasn’t enough, the center also hosts the annual Back to School Block Party, a huge festival celebrating the young students heading back to school each year in the Louisville area. There’s music, food, fun, and games for kids of all ages to help dull the pain of returning to school.
