LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two Kentucky cities are being recognized nationally on a list of the 150 best places to live in the U.S. in 2024-2025.
And those cities are Lexington and Louisville.
U.S. News ranked Lexington as the No. 15 best place to live.
"Lexington blends influences from the South and Midwest to create a unique cultural identity," U.S. News Reporter Megan Larkin wrote. "A college town, Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky, the city's largest school and employer. The university plays a vital role in the city by constantly attracting young, educated people into the culture and economy."
The article gave the city an overall score of 6.6/10, with the quality of life being a 6.8/10 and the value being a 7.8/10.
"You don't have to love horses to love Lexington (but if you hate them, it may not be the place for you). Lexingtonians also love college basketball, locally sourced cuisine, outdoor recreation and bourbon. The region has a variety of industries, a temperate climate and plenty of access to the great outdoors," Larkin wrote. "The area's population is growing, but the cost of living is still relatively low. A diverse job market and a stable economy make Lexington ideal for young professionals, families and retirees."
You can read U.S. News' full breakdown of Lexington here.
Louisville was ranked the No. 42 best place to live.
"...Louisville is a modern metropolitan area steeped in tradition. Each neighborhood offers unique things to do and has its own flavor," U.S. News Reporter Sarah Mackey Kirby wrote. "The weeks-long Kentucky Derby Festival enhances the region's appeal, attracting visitors from all over the world to gamble and drink mint juleps."
The article gave the city an overall score of 6.5/10, with the quality of life being a 6.6/10 and the value being a 7.6/10.
"Locally owned restaurants and coffee shops make Louisville a culinary destination, with restaurants serving bourbon, produce, meat and dairy products sporting the "Kentucky Proud" label identifying them as Kentucky-grown or Kentucky-made," Kirby wrote. "And bumper stickers that unapologetically carry the "Keep Louisville Weird" slogan show Louisville residents' strong support of independent businesses."
She made sure to mention that the first step to becoming a "real Louisvillian" is pronouncing the city correctly.
You can read U.S. News' full breakdown of Louisville here.
U.S. News said a place had to have "good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life" to make it to the top of the list.
U.S. News ranked Naples, Florida the best place to live in the U.S., followed by Boise, Idaho and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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