The Town FilesShively, Kentucky
City in Jefferson County · population 15,636 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,700
- Household income
- $50,221
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 47.5
Shively is a city of 15,636 people in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $154,700, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 95% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 89% of Kentucky towns.
How Shively 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 Shively is worth $154,700, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $50,221, which is more affordable than 47% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $899 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shively | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,700 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $899 | $837 |
| Median household income | $50,221 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shively
| People | Shively | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.6% |
Weather in Shively
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shively since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 28, 1996 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 239 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 129 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 Shively itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Towns near Shively
- Louisville, KY4.4 mi · 246,161 people · home —
- New Albany, IN7.9 mi · 37,841 people · home $180,500
- Clarksville, IN8.9 mi · 22,333 people · home $179,700
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY9.3 mi · 386,884 people · home $233,900
- Indian Hills, KY9.9 mi · 2,860 people · home $699,200
- St. Matthews, KY10.2 mi · 17,534 people · home $338,000
- Georgetown, IN10.6 mi · 3,805 people · home $302,300
- Jeffersonville, IN11.4 mi · 49,447 people · home $216,800
Shively questions
Is Shively, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shively scores better for retirees than 3% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 5%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.5).
How much does a house cost in Shively?
The median owner-occupied home in Shively is valued at $154,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,221, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $899 a month.
What is the weather like in Shively?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13.4 inches of snow.
Does Shively get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shively 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)