If you're moving to Louisville and schools or safety matter to your family, this is the reference you need. We analyzed 76+ Louisville-area neighborhoods using school quality data (rated 1–10) and crime grades (A+ through F), then ranked them so you can compare any neighborhood against the full metro at a glance.
Elite Tier — School Rating 9–10
Louisville has 7 neighborhoods that reach a school rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. These are the zones where public school performance is genuinely exceptional.
Cherokee Gardens leads the Louisville area rankings with a 10/10 school rating and A crime grade at a $499,000 median price. Brownsboro Zorn is a strong alternative at 10/10 schools, A crime, and $579,000 median.
Strong Tier — School Rating 8
A school rating of 8/10 is well above the national average. Louisville has 11 neighborhoods in this tier. These are solid family zones where you get strong public schools without necessarily paying the top-tier premium.
Highlights in this tier: Worthington ($219,000, A crime), Graymoor-Devondale ($249,000, A crime), Tyler Park ($322,000, A crime), O'Bannon ($323,000, A crime), Cherokee Triangle ($362,000, A crime).
Best Value — Strong Schools Under $350,000
These neighborhoods offer the best school rating and crime grade combination at or under $350,000 median price — the spots where what you pay is less than what you get in school quality and safety.
Full Louisville Neighborhood Rankings
| Neighborhood | Schools | Crime | Median Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Gardens | 10/10 | A | $499,000 |
| Brownsboro Zorn | 10/10 | A | $579,000 |
| Harrods Creek | 10/10 | A | $630,000 |
| Saint Regis Park | 9/10 | A | $268,000 |
| Thornhill | 9/10 | A | $297,000 |
| Lake Forest Beckley | 9/10 | A | $400,000 |
| Cherokee Seneca | 9/10 | A | $422,000 |
| Worthington | 8/10 | A | $219,000 |
| Graymoor-Devondale | 8/10 | A | $249,000 |
| Tyler Park | 8/10 | A | $322,000 |
| O'Bannon | 8/10 | A | $323,000 |
| Cherokee Triangle | 8/10 | A | $362,000 |
| Highlands Douglass | 8/10 | A | $365,000 |
| Deer Park | 8/10 | B | $250,000 |
| Hayfield Dundee | 8/10 | B | $261,000 |
| Crescent Hill | 8/10 | B | $271,000 |
| Gardiner Lane | 8/10 | B | $272,000 |
| Belknap | 8/10 | B | $313,000 |
| Bon Air | 7/10 | B | $158,000 |
| Buechel | 7/10 | B | $161,000 |
| Kenwood Hill | 7/10 | B | $167,000 |
| Clifton Heights | 7/10 | B | $168,000 |
| Germantown | 7/10 | B | $169,000 |
| Schnitzelburg | 7/10 | B | $170,000 |
| Poplar Level | 7/10 | B | $171,000 |
| Avondale-Melbourne Heights | 7/10 | B | $177,000 |
| Audubon | 7/10 | B | $178,000 |
| Hillview | 7/10 | B | $179,000 |
| Highview | 7/10 | B | $184,000 |
| Fern Creek | 7/10 | B | $185,000 |
| Hikes Point | 7/10 | B | $188,000 |
| Clifton | 7/10 | B | $189,000 |
| Parkwood | 7/10 | B | $192,000 |
| Hawthorne | 7/10 | B | $194,000 |
| NuLu | 7/10 | B | $195,000 |
| Old Louisville | 7/10 | B | $230,000 |
| Original Highlands | 7/10 | B | $235,000 |
| Downtown Louisville | 7/10 | B | $291,000 |
| Bashford Manor | 6/10 | B | $117,000 |
| Edgewood | 6/10 | B | $118,000 |
| Beechmont | 6/10 | B | $129,000 |
| Newburg | 6/10 | B | $131,000 |
| Prestonia | 6/10 | B | $146,000 |
| Camp Taylor | 6/10 | B | $147,000 |
| Pleasure Ridge Park | 6/10 | B | $149,000 |
| Bradley | 6/10 | B | $155,000 |
| Cloverleaf | 6/10 | B | $156,000 |
| Okolona | 6/10 | B | $157,000 |
| Auburndale | 6/10 | B | $163,000 |
| Valley Station | 6/10 | B | $166,000 |
| Butchertown | 6/10 | B | $211,000 |
| Irish Hill | 6/10 | C | $159,000 |
| Valley Village | 5/10 | B | $127,000 |
| Hazelwood | 5/10 | C | $110,000 |
| Wilder Park | 5/10 | C | $111,000 |
| Riverside Gardens | 5/10 | C | $112,000 |
| Saint Joseph | 5/10 | C | $132,000 |
| Limerick | 5/10 | C | $136,000 |
| Saint Denis | 5/10 | C | $137,000 |
| Shelby Park | 5/10 | C | $148,000 |
| Meriwether | 5/10 | C | $150,000 |
| Klondike | 5/10 | C | $151,000 |
| Phoenix Hill | 5/10 | C | $175,000 |
| Churchill Downs | 4/10 | C | $95,000 |
| Algonquin | 4/10 | D | $77,000 |
| Chickasaw | 4/10 | D | $80,000 |
| Shawnee | 4/10 | D | $81,000 |
| Wyandotte | 4/10 | D | $89,000 |
| Taylor Berry | 4/10 | D | $91,000 |
| Smoketown | 4/10 | D | $138,000 |
| Park Hill | 3/10 | D | $62,000 |
| Portland | 3/10 | D | $64,000 |
| Parkland | 3/10 | D | $67,000 |
| California | 3/10 | D | $68,000 |
| Russell | 3/10 | D | $72,000 |
| Park Duvalle | 3/10 | D | $87,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Louisville neighborhood has the best schools?
The top-rated neighborhood in the Louisville area is Cherokee Gardens (10/10 schools, A crime, $499,000 median). A strong alternative is Brownsboro Zorn (10/10 schools, A crime, $579,000 median).
What is the safest neighborhood in Louisville?
The top-rated neighborhoods by crime grade in Louisville include Harrods Creek (A), Brownsboro Zorn (A), Cherokee Gardens (A), Cherokee Seneca (A). Crime grades are relative to the Louisville metro area.
Which Louisville neighborhood has the best schools under $350,000?
For buyers under $350,000, Saint Regis Park (9/10 schools, A crime, $268,000 median) offers the best combined school and crime grade in the Louisville metro.
Is a 7/10 school rating good in Louisville?
Yes — a 7/10 school rating in Louisville is above average for the metro and well above the national average. The difference between a 7 and a 9 is real, but a 7 is not a bad school by any reasonable measure. Many buyers find 7-rated neighborhoods represent the best value in the market.
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