© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
St. Matthews.
About
Life in St. Matthews
Living in St. Matthews means settling into a stable, established suburb just seven miles east of downtown Louisville where you're close enough to the city for work but far enough removed to avoid the urban grind. The job market is solid with a 4.6% unemployment rate, and your commute will likely hover around 19 minutes, which is genuinely reasonable for a metro area—most people aren't sitting in traffic for an hour just to get to the office.
St. Matthews at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Foreign-Born
5.6%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.6% foreign-born, most often from Other Middle Africa
Who lives in St. Matthews: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In St. Matthews, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Middle Africa (10.8%), and 1.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
16.3%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.3%
of households
Married Couples
37.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.96
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% above KY average
Rent, home values, and income in St. Matthews
In St. Matthews, rent runs 42% above the KY average, and home values are 64% above the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,078
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in St. Matthews and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes St. Matthews, is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
St. Matthews: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
St. Matthews is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What St. Matthews Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area
Commute19.6 min avg
How St. Matthews residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In St. Matthews, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
Small hub2.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 76 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 54% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in St. Matthews runs 54% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
151.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,639.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
St. Matthews Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes St. Matthews, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $270,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $101,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
St. Matthews is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes St. Matthews, is typically good — 188 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
188
per year
Moderate Days
167
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
St. Matthews is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
St. Matthews has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Annual Snowfall
13.4"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
80
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 27°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 48°F | 30°F | 3.27" |
| Mar | 57°F | 38°F | 4.37" |
| Apr | 69°F | 48°F | 4.69" |
| May | 77°F | 57°F | 5.16" |
| Jun | 85°F | 66°F | 4.68" |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 4.56" |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 3.53" |
| Sep | 81°F | 60°F | 3.61" |
| Oct | 69°F | 48°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 57°F | 38°F | 3.44" |
| Dec | 46°F | 31°F | 3.88" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in St. Matthews
St. Matthews has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Baptist Health Louisville
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
The Brook Hospital - Dupont
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
The Brook Hospital - Kmi
Psychiatric · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Louisville
Louisville VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Louisville
Central State Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.6 mi away · Louisville
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in St. Matthews
St. Matthews's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 58.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
9
within city limits
College Degree Rate
58.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near St. Matthews (within 15 miles)
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville
7.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 4,801 students · 74% graduate · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 3,170 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 40% graduate · median earnings $52,768 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 363 students · in-state tuition $14,200 · 38% graduate · median earnings $36,434 (10 yrs after entry)
Mid-America College of Funeral Service
7.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 279 students · in-state tuition $20,800 · 64% graduate · median earnings $43,688 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for St. Matthews
St. Matthews has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
46 mi awayCamp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
65 mi awayLincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
74 mi awayMammoth Cave National Park
National Park
78 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
86 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in St. Matthews
Saint Matthews/Eline Branch
3940 Grandview Avenue, Louisville
Cities Near St. Matthews
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to St. Matthews?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
St. Matthews FAQ
Is St. Matthews, Kentucky affordable?⌄
St. Matthews's median rent is $1,369/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $82,412/year. Median home value is $338,000.
Is St. Matthews, Kentucky safe?⌄
St. Matthews's violent crime rate was 151 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4640 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in St. Matthews, Kentucky?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes St. Matthews, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in St. Matthews, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in St. Matthews is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,369/month and median household income is $82,412/year. The median home value is $338,000. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in St. Matthews, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in St. Matthews is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from