City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Louisville is significant: $93,658 median household versus $66,849. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,120 in Louisville.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Louisville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Louisville are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $609 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $66,849 in Louisville, down $26,809 (29%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 209 in Louisville, up 47 points (29%).
The move
Louisville and Austin are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $609 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $93,658 in Austin, up $26,809 (40%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 162 in Austin, down 47 points (22%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Louisville rent is 35% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,729 in Austin, so Louisville is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $609/month back in your pocket ($7,308/year). Over five years that's $36,540 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Louisville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Austin's median income is 40% higher than Louisville
Austin
Winner$93,658
Louisville
$66,849
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Austin (about $26,809 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Louisville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 22% lower than Louisville
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Austin weather is 6% more comfortable than Louisville
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Louisville
63°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 94/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); Louisville averages about 63°F (71°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Louisville averages around 63°F. Austin scores 6% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Louisville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 40% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Louisville (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Austin runs $1,729/month while Louisville sits at $1,120 — roughly 35% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Austin-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Louisville rent at $1,120/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 38/100 in Louisville.
Louisville is the default on housing cost at $1,120/month versus $1,729 in Austin; Austin stays in play when $93,658 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $609 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Louisville, plus other cities in TX and KY.
