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It depends on what you want. I do not believe anyone can say that one city is better than another without defining what the parameters are. Clearly people have different preferences which is why we have thousands of cities in the US instead of just one (if there was clearly a "best" city wouldn't everyone move there eventually?).
Louisville is larger (metro area about 3 times as big as Lexington) so there is more shopping, cultural activities, restaurants, etc. The architecture is more classic. The parks are great and feel "grander." There is also significantly more crime, more grit, and more run-down areas. Louisville feels more Midwestern.
Lexington is smaller and is inextricably linked to UK and thoroughbred horses. On the whole it is less manufacturing and more New Economy. It is more educated. It has more natural beauty within close proximity. The restaurant choices will be more limited (there are only a few thai, indian, or african restaurants compared to Louisville). There isn't a great art museum. The architecture is newer. Lexington feels more Southern. Lexington is incredibly "clean" with great landscaping and fences and water features all around town. There is no significant blight.
Both are great cities for what they are. I love Lexington, but I would love Louisville as well for different reasons. Compared to cities of comparable size, I would put the quality of life in either city at the top of any list.
You've not spent any time around Lexington's north side.
No significant blight in Lexington? That's a good one.
Well, that depends on what you call blight. If you call the somewhat run-down neighborhoods in North Lexington blight, then yes there is some. Spend some time in places like Detroit and Toledo and Cleveland and you're definition of blight will radically change. I'm talking about neighborhoods where half the houses are empty and/or collapsing, where there are industrial buildings empty and rusting. Lexington doesn't have any of that blight.
Well, that depends on what you call blight. If you call the somewhat run-down neighborhoods in North Lexington blight, then yes there is some. Spend some time in places like Detroit and Toledo and Cleveland and you're definition of blight will radically change. I'm talking about neighborhoods where half the houses are empty and/or collapsing, where there are industrial buildings empty and rusting. Lexington doesn't have any of that blight.
And on that same note, you can't compare Louisville's worst areas to Detroit. Parts of Detroit are urban wastelands,literally being reclaimed by nature.
And to my next point, I don't agree with the idea that Lexington is beautiful. Sure, granted *rural* Fayette and the surrounding inner bluegrass is scenic, but suburban and downtown are rather average to me. How is Nicholasville Rd more scenic that Shelbyville Road? And, the other highways leading into Lex-Versailles,Winchester,Richmond are typical suburban drags with typical chain restaurants and big box stores. What's scenic about that? So, if you want to talk countryside, sure the Lexington area is scenic, but for city vs city, I'm taking Louisville. Give me Old Louisville,Crescent Hill,Cherokee Triangle,Highlands over Lexington proper anytime.
When I tell people that I used to live in Kentucky, they ususally ask "were you close to Louisville or that other town that starts with an L? What's the name of that town?"
With that said, I personally like both cities. However, that doesn't mean that Louisville and Lexington are in the same league.
Wow, I'm sorry you have such a negative, and untrue, impression of Lexington.
Actually Lexington offers all the amenities of Louisville but on a smaller scale.
There are fewer people living in Lex so obviously we need less duplication of things to meet our residents needs. We have an active arts scene, great restaurants, a great school system (the highest rated in the state), and less traffic to contend with. It is less spread out than Louisville so it takes less time to navigate around town.
Yes, I agree. The two cities are entirely different, and to decide which is better is totally based on personal opinions.
As others have pointed out, Louisville is certainly larger, so most things in Lexington are on a smaller scale. For example, both have nice art museums. Louisville's Speed Museum is larger and tends to attract more popular national traveling exhibits, whereas Lexington's has smaller, more specialized visiting exhibits. There are outstanding schools in both - Louisville has a greater selection of magnet schools and optional programming, but it also has forced busing and some really poorly rated schools. There are more private schools in Louisville, including parochial/Catholic, "other religious", and independent, upscale schools.
Both have great restaurants. If you're looking for an upscale, contemporary, NYC style restaurant experience, Louisville has a good selection. Lexington also has some great ones, but certainly fewer. If you want funky, hole-in-the-wall, local eateries, it is the same thing. Louisville has quite a few selections, Lexington has fewer but still some great offerings. If chain restaurants are your thing, both have many well-known selections. Louisville has a Hard Rock Cafe and Cheesecake Factory, etc - Lexington doesn't.
Shopping: both have large shopping malls with many popular chain stores and department stores. Lexington has 1 main traditional mall (with a second, smaller mall that is not as popular), and one major contemporary open "lifestyle" shopping center. Louisville has 3 major traditional malls, and more than one open "lifestyle" center. Looking for organic and gourmet foods? Lexington has Wild Oats and a great local market (Good Foods Co-op), with a few smaller local places. Louisville has both Wild Oats and Whole Foods, with several smaller local places throughout. Want unique, boutique, locally owned shopping? Louisville has more, with larger clusters. Lexington also offers some great ones, just fewer and less overall selections.
Both offer a downtown environment that is being re-invented and re-emphasized. Louisville's is much larger. Both have contemporary loft living, modern high-rise living, and older historic neighborhood rings around the downtown area. Both also offer a range of housing in "suburban" environments. Louisville has a larger suburban area and offers more distinct communities and neighborhoods with their own vibes (the Highlands vs Middletown, for example). Lexington's neighborhoods tend to be smaller, and less defined, but there are still some distinctive areas (the Ashland/Chevy Chase area vs Palomar and Beaumont).
Lexington has UK, which is the largest university in the state and tends to be a bigger influence throughout the city. Louisville's UofL is smaller and more of a commuter program, so there is less of a presence throughout most of the city. Lexington tends to have a higher percentage of residents with college degrees, and the university introduces a large international and "transplanted" group of families, students, and faculty. Because Louisville does have more distinct areas, and Lexington's size is much smaller, Lexington's population tends to blend together and you interact with all different types of people. For example, to focus on an issue brought up above, you will find "rednecks" in both cities. In Louisville, there are large areas that are stereotyped as "redneck" communities, and large areas that are considered upscale and "snobby", and people from one community rarely venture into others. In Lexington, you will find people stereotyped as "rednecks" and people stereotyped as "snobs" living much closer together, sharing their shopping and restaurants. So, yes, in Lexington if you go shopping or out to an average chain restaurant, you are much more likely to encounter people of different socio-economic status, backgrounds, etc - there is much less space for segregration of lifestyles and more of a blended environment.
Lexington is in central KY, right in the region that typifies KY for many outsiders. In Lexington's area, you will find the horse farms, the groups of men and women dressed for Keeneland in suits and hats, etc, with a lot of old-money "horse families" interwoven into local government and communities. Lexington also shares a closer relationship with Cincinnati to its north, where a lot of residents commute back and forth or travel between for sports events, shopping, traveling, etc. Lexington embraces the stereotypical KY image, whereas Louisville has a more unique blend with southern Indiana and even picks up some western KY/St Louis influences. Yet both are still distinctive from the other unique areas of Kentucky - eastern KY with its Appalachian culture, southern KY with its shared influences from Tennessee, and Western KY with its closer alliance to Missouri and the "river" culture.
So, to try to summarize, I think we can all agree that Louisville is a larger, more traditional "city", and it offers the amenities that come with that territory. There is nothing in Lexington that rivals the large festivities for the Derby celebration, for example, and Louisville's airport is much larger and offers more flight options than Lexington. If you're young, single, and looking for a social scene, you will most likely be happier with Louisville's offerings, because Lexington's are much smaller. However, Louisville also has larger industry, heavier pollution, etc. If you are looking for a larger city environment, Louisville will probably be your preferred choice. However, many people choose Lexington because it offers many city amenities on a much smaller, more accessible scale. For examply, in my experience the Lexington public bus/transit system is more comprehensive and easier to use than Louisville's, although Louisville's is obviously larger. (Although FWIW, neither are outstanding).
Personally, I've lived in both for several years. When my husband and I were forced to relocate back to KY last year, we had a choice between Louisville and Lexington. And, even though I am a "big city" girl who would much prefer to move back to Chicago, we chose Lexington for the reasons I've mentioned above. So far, we have been very happy with our decision, even though there are times when we've had to drive into Cincinnati to access some of the shopping or entertainment options that we've wanted. So, to each his own. If you are seriously considering the two, just plan to spend some time driving through the areas. It isn't that difficult to pick up on the differences, and you will most likely be easily drawn to one or the other.
I came across your post on the comparisons of both places. I completely thank you for your in depth write up. I am from Rhode Island, and I am planning to relocate to Lexington. I have been very overwelmed in finding out good- solid info on the area, your post helped alot.
I have sooo many questions to ask you, but rather not load you with a dozen questions at this time. Thanks for the good solid write up on Lexington(and Louisville) Big help for us newbies!
Whoever said Louisville is more midwestern...I'm gonna have to disagree. Sure, maybe parts are, but that's just because it's a much larger and more diverse city. I'd say in a lot of ways Louisville is more Southern than Lexington. I'd venture to say that more people from Louisville proper have southern accents than people from Lexington proper. People in Lexington tend to associate a bit too much with Ohio (most are Reds and Bengals fans, etc). While Louisville borders Indiana, you won't find anyone associating with it outside of recognizing it's that state on the other side of the river.
I know I've mentioned it before, and I noticed Jimmy John Wilson actually made a map, but how citizens view surrounding areas is key in determining the mindsets of those citizens. Lexington natives "radar" tends to the Northeast: Cincy, Columbus, NKY, Ashland area. Louisville's tends to the western half of the SE: Bowling Green, Nashville, Memphis, Owensboro. Overall, I'd say Lexington is a more Southern version of NKY, while Louisville is a more urban version of Western KY.
Both are Southern, but different types. Lexington is more genteel, similar to Oxford, MS. Louisville is more raw and gritty similar to Memphis.
Last edited by pappy van winkle; 07-07-2010 at 12:52 PM..
At some point in every Kentuckians life they must come to the acceptance that they are neither southern nor northern, but CENTRAL EASTERN.
I didn't know I was from the south until I left Louisville and a roommate from New York had to convince me. I always considered myself northern. Oh well.
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moving to lexington
whoa..
to relocate back to KY last year, we had a choice between Louisville and Lexington. And, even though I am a "big city" girl who would much prefer to move back to Chicago, we chose Lexington for the reasons I've mentioned above. So far, we have been very happy with our decision, even though there are times when we've had to drive into Cincinnati to access some of the shopping or entertainment options that we've wanted. So, to each his own. If you are seriously considering the two, just plan to spend some time driving through the areas. It isn't that difficult to pick up on the differences, and you will most likely be easily drawn to one or the other.
