What it's like to live in Shepherdsville
Shepherdsville is a small city in Kentucky with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Shepherdsville deals with college degree attainment below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Shepherdsville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Shepherdsville
Based on Shepherdsville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,886
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $37,720 a year
- 57% of Shepherdsville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$44,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,210
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 33% below US
$943/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $943 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $222,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $222,100 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Bullitt County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Bullitt County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 51% below US
160 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1621/100k · Shepherdsville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 53% below US
17% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (27 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Shepherdsville's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are college degree attainment below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($943/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Shepherdsville
All Kentucky guides →Moving to Mount Washington →
9 mi away · pop. 18,480
Rent $1,008/mo · Income $96,239
Compare with Shepherdsville →Moving to Louisville →
13 mi away · pop. 631,818
Rent $1,120/mo · Income $66,849
Compare with Shepherdsville →Moving to Shively →
16 mi away · pop. 15,638
Rent $899/mo · Income $50,221
Compare with Shepherdsville →Moving to Radcliff →
17 mi away · pop. 22,864
Rent $971/mo · Income $58,559
Compare with Shepherdsville →Not sure Shepherdsville is the one?
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