Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Louisville, Kentucky
A $222,000 home here costs
$1,826per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 6.65% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $78,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,140. The real number is $685 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Louisville against Jefferson County and Kentucky
| Measure | Louisville | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,500 | $237,200 |
| Median property tax | $1,902 | $2,023 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.859% | 0.853% |
| Median gross rent | $1,069 | $1,097 |
| Population | 627,210 | 777,392 |
The weather behind that power bill
Louisville sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 87.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 27.1°F in its coldest, with 48.12" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,543 cooling and 4,150 heating degree days, which is what sets the $157 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jefferson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jefferson County
Full Jefferson County cost breakdown · Every county in Kentucky
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Louisville averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Louisville every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Louisville I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Louisville?
A $222,000 home in Louisville, Kentucky costs approximately $1,826 per month with 20% down at 6.65%. That is $1,140 principal and interest, $159 property tax, $117 homeowners insurance, $225 utilities and $185 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Louisville?
Louisville has an effective property tax rate of 0.859%, based on a median home value of $221,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,902. That is in line with the Jefferson County average of 0.853%.
What is the average home price in Louisville?
The median owner-occupied home value in Louisville, Kentucky is $221,500, against $237,200 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Louisville?
Median gross rent in Louisville is $1,069 a month, against $1,826 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Louisville?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Louisville, Kentucky at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $78,000 a year. That covers the full $1,826 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Louisville, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Kentucky.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.