The Town FilesLouisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky
Metro government in Jefferson County · population 386,884 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,900
- Household income
- $66,849
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 37.7
Louisville/Jefferson County is a metro government of 386,884 people in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $233,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 84% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 84% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 82% of Kentucky towns.
How Louisville/Jefferson County ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Louisville/Jefferson County is worth $233,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $66,849, which is more affordable than 27% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,120 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Louisville/Jefferson County | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,120 | $837 |
| Median household income | $66,849 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Louisville/Jefferson County
| People | Louisville/Jefferson County | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 88.6% |
Weather in Louisville/Jefferson County
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 53.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Louisville/Jefferson County since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 28, 1996 about 7.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 238 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 143 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 482,313 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,280 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Louisville/Jefferson County itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Towns near Louisville/Jefferson County
- Jeffersontown, KY5.1 mi · 28,474 people · home $250,700
- St. Matthews, KY5.8 mi · 17,534 people · home $338,000
- Hurstbourne, KY5.9 mi · 4,683 people · home $542,600
- Louisville, KY6.5 mi · 246,161 people · home —
- Douglass Hills, KY7.1 mi · 5,456 people · home $346,300
- Lyndon, KY7.5 mi · 11,008 people · home $276,800
- Hillview, KY7.6 mi · 8,622 people · home $186,300
- Graymoor-Devondale, KY7.6 mi · 2,853 people · home $338,000
Louisville/Jefferson County questions
Is Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Louisville/Jefferson County scores better for retirees than 10% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 15%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Louisville/Jefferson County?
The median owner-occupied home in Louisville/Jefferson County is valued at $233,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,849, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,120 a month.
What is the weather like in Louisville/Jefferson County?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.1 inches of precipitation a year and 15.1 inches of snow.
Does Louisville/Jefferson County get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Louisville/Jefferson County since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 28, 1996. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)