Moving to Louisville? The Bourbon City combines heritage with innovation and offers a strong job market, great neighborhoods, and legendary Southern hospitality. If you’re looking for safe, affordable Louisville neighborhoods, here are five great options to consider!
Bonnycastle
Photo via @davenport.drinographics
- Home Price: $421,400 median purchase price; $765 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 96% of Louisville neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Part of the larger Cherokee-Seneca neighborhood, Bonnycastle is filled with shops, local nightlife, and plenty of dining options along Bardstown Road (better known as “Restaurant Row” to locals). This safe Louisville neighborhood preserves its history through housing styles like Victorian, Greek Revival, and Craftsman bungalows, and the old Bonnycastle Homestead mansion still overlooks the area, too. Along with its rich history, Bonnycastle is one of the best Louisville neighborhoods for families because of its walkability, outdoor recreation in nearby Cherokee Park, and excellent schools like Bloom Elementary School, The de Paul School, and St. James Catholic School.
Things to Do in Bonnycastle
Practice your swing at one of the oldest public courses in the U.S., Cherokee Golf Course. Strum on the guitar, practice your scales on the french horn, or fine-tune your piano skills at Doo Wop Shop, which is open to music lessons for ages five and up. Spruce up your style from any era with classic clothing and accessories from Vintage Banana. Find funky gifts, one-of-a-kind tees, and art prints from indie brands at Dot Fox Clothing Culture. And while there, sip on Red Eye coffee, an Italian Soda, or the delicious Miel at Louisville Joe Coffee Company. Bite into the Chick’N Sando, Brunch Burger, or the Philly Cheese Steak at Shahar Cafe. Savor a Salmon Kabob with Hummus, Tabbouleh, or Avocado Brushetta at Shiraz Mediterranean Grill. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with Boston Fruit Slices, Gourmet Box Chocolates, or Modjeskas at The Sweet Spot Candy Shoppe & Dundee Candy.
Crescent Hill
Photo via @housesoflouisville
- Home Price: $253,250 median purchase price; $715 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 70% of Louisville neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
If you’re searching for an affordable Louisville neighborhood with exciting things to do, kind neighbors, and budget-friendly houses, Crescent Hill is a perfect fit! Although this area is just a ten-minute drive from Downtown Louisville, you don’t have to leave to find local shops, elevated restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. In fact, the recently-improved Frankfort Ave district, along with Kennedy Court Park, has helped this safe place in Louisville become a desirable neighborhood. Residents living in Crescent Hill can join their neighbors on free “Walking Wednesday” tours of the Gothic-style Crescent Hill Reservoir and Gatehouse, and other classic bungalows and ranches. Families in Crescent Hill also have their pick of great schools like Chenoweth Elementary, Field Elementary, Barret Traditional Middle School, Highlands Latin School, or the Sacred Heart School system.
Things to Do in Crescent Hill
Practice your swing at the scenic Crescent Hill Golf Course. Sign your kids up for Summer Art Camp programs, or let their inner artists shine during The Whole Child program at Side by Side Studio. Find for crafts, jewelry, and home decor from all over the globe at fair-trade marketplace Just Creations. Begin your child’s musical journey with LAM Children’s Choir, join Chamber Music and Rhythm Science Sound groups yourself at the non-profit Louisville Academy of Music. Start your morning with the Egg & Bacon Flatbread, Split Pea Soup, or Grilled Artichoke at Blue Dog Bakery & Cafe. Savor the Vegan Chicken, Quarter Dark, or the Lil’ Sammie Sliders at Southern hot spot Joella’s Hot Chicken. Shop the meat counter before your next BBQ or order Burrata Toast, The Fat Tony, or a Red Hog Cuban sandwich at RedHog. Play giant Jenga and other board games with a West Sixth IPA or Ace Guava Cider in hand at Hilltop Tavern. Or grab delicious allergen-free desserts like Oatmeal Cream Pie Super Cookies, Cookie Cakes with frosting, and Vanilla Cake Donuts at Annie May’s Sweet Cafe.
Deer Park
Photo via @manningkangrealitors
- Home Price: $233,240 median purchase price; $785 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 73% of Louisville neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families, retirees
If you want to settle down in Derby City, one of the safest places in Louisville is Deer Park. Located between Belknap and Cherokee Triangle, Deer Park provides suburban living with quick access to urban amenities in Downtown Louisville. A variety of restaurants, bars, and vintage shops on Bardstown Rd—along with inexpensive housing—make this affordable Louisville neighborhood popular among singles and young professionals looking to settle down. In fact, Deer Park is an ideal, budget-friendly Louisville neighborhood for anyone looking to buy their first home. Families in Deer Park can find affordable Ranches, Shotgun houses, Victorian, and American Craftsman homes beside quality schools like Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Highland Middle School, and Bellarmine University.
Things to Do in Deer Park
Fill your fridge with fresh, local produce and homemade goods from Bardstown Road Farmers Market. Pick out cool vintage clothing, printed socks, and homemade jewelry from Hey Tiger. Stroll around the neighborhood in September and enjoy more than a dozen homes hosting musical acts from their front steps during Porchfest. Grab a cold brew, latte, or cappuccino on your way to work from Sunergos Coffee. Visit the “birthplace of the cheeseburger” and try Kaelin’s Famous Original Cheeseburger, The Black Bean Burger, or a Ribeye Burger at 80/20 at Kaelin’s. Feast on some of the best BBQ in Louisville and order a Chunky Chicken Salad Sandwich, Burgoo & Bar-B-Q, or the Bacon Bar-B-Q Cheeseburger at Mark’s Feed Store. Or try pub fares like a Dickie Shreck’s Club or Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwich along with a rotating menu of bourbons and whiskeys at Shenanigan’s Irish Grille.
The Highlands
Photo via @Brookefeather
- Home Price: $162,200 median purchase price; $776 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 75% of Louisville neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families
A former cozy streetcar suburb, Louisville’s Original Highlands is a macro neighborhood encompassing Bonnycastle, Tyler Park, Belknap, and more. Within the historical Kentucky neighborhood, you’ll find budget-friendly, Victorian-style homes and turn-of-the-century architecture on the streets of Bardstown Road. With renting and housing well beneath local median prices, this affordable neighborhood in Louisville is great for all walks of life. But hip shops and trendy nightlife in The Highlands make this one of the best neighborhoods for singles and young professionals. And families with kids living in The Highlands have excellent educational opportunities like Breckinridge Metropolitan High or Jefferson County Traditional Middle School.
Things to Do in The Highlands
Stock up on vintage apparel, accessories, and miscellaneous finds at Retro Ville. Find eclectic furniture, decor, and more at Eyedia Design It Again. Express yourself through dance classes like Modern Dance, Hip Hop, or Ballet at Louisville Dance Alliance. Find a rare record to add to your vinyl collection at Better Days Records. Down signature cocktails like Ginnie’s Pink Poodle or Paco’s Pug-loma Old Fashion with friends while your pup plays at PG&J’s Dog Park Bar. Pick up cookies and macarons for a sweet snack or indulge in a Warm Vegetarian Mushroom ‘Meatball’ sandwich, Sourdough Burrata Toast, or a Spring Hippie Bowl at Wiltshire Pantry. Head over for Barbacoa tacos, Chips & Pico De Gallo, and Tetanica Tortas at Taco Luchador Taqueria. Or grab a Sloppy Josh, Nacho Fries, or Summer Quinoa Bowl at V-Grits vegan restaurant.
Old Louisville
Photo via @stevegrider.photography
- Home Price: $134,500 median purchase price; $547 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 55% of Louisville neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
With the largest collection of restored Victorian homes in the Historic Preservation District of Old Louisville, this long-established neighborhood offers residents beautiful walking paths, plenty of entertainment options, and rich architecture. On top of its already-stunning housing styles, Old Louisville also has the highest concentration of homes with stained glass windows in the U.S. If you’re looking for great education options in Old Louisville, parents can send their children to duPont Manual High School, Noe Middle School, Spalding University, or the University of Louisville. Though the biggest attraction to Old Louisville is the community: Rain or shine, residents participate in communal events like the St. James Court Art Show and Kentucky Shakespeare.
Things to Do in Old Louisville
Admire quilted art paintings by Native and Black Americans or pastoral depictions of rural Kentucky at the Speed Art Museum. Get close to the stars, planets, and sky at the Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium. Stroll under open canopy paths or go for a jog at Central Park. Dance the night away during the warm summer months at the free concert series, Old Louisville Live in Central Park. Try the Hoagie Steak Combo, Pint Dizzy Chili, or famous Whizzburger they’ve been serving for 70 years at Dizzy Whizz. Taste outstanding Japanese cuisine like the Spicy Lover Roll, Godzilla Roll, and the Crazy Roll at Mt Fuji Japanese Cuisine. Spoil your dinner with jumbo-stuffed cookies like S’more Dat, Vanilla Bean Choux Au Craquelin Puffs, or the BAEsic at locally-owned Bae’s Bakery. Or take a night off and go out for drinks with weekly specials like Happy Hour All Day, Pint & Slice Night, and BYOV (Bring-Your-Own-Vinyl) Thursdays at Mag Bar!
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
