What it's like to live in St. Matthews
St. Matthews is a small city in Kentucky with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average.
Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next. The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
How St. Matthews compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to St. Matthews
Based on St. Matthews's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,738
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,760 a year
- 37% of St. Matthews renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$67,600
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,800
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,369/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,369 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $338,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $338,000 · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 54% below US
151 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 4640/100k · St. Matthews Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 63% above US
59% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (46 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
St. Matthews's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoff is air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,369/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near St. Matthews
All Kentucky guides →Moving to Jeffersontown →
5 mi away · pop. 29,199
Rent $1,320/mo · Income $81,506
Compare with St. Matthews →Moving to Louisville →
6 mi away · pop. 631,818
Rent $1,120/mo · Income $66,849
Compare with St. Matthews →Not sure St. Matthews is the one?
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