City comparison
Yes. Louisville's crime index is 209 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 207 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,120 in Louisville.
Louisville and Toledo are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,120 in Louisville and $934 in Toledo, and median household income lands at $66,849 versus $62,224. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Louisville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Louisville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Louisville and Toledo are 263 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $934 a month in Toledo, down $186 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $62,224 in Toledo, down $4,625 (7%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 221 in Toledo, up 12 points (6%).
The move
Toledo and Louisville are 263 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,120 a month in Louisville, up $186 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $66,849 in Louisville, up $4,625 (7%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 209 in Louisville, down 12 points (5%).
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Louisville and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Toledo rent is 17% cheaper than Louisville
Louisville
$1,120/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,120 in Louisville, so Toledo is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,232, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Louisville.
Planning to buy in Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Louisville's median income is 7% higher than Toledo
Louisville
Winner$66,849
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Louisville (about $4,625 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
5% lower crime
Louisville's crime index is 5% lower than Toledo
Louisville
Winner209 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Louisville's crime index is 209 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Louisville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Louisville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Toledo. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
23% more comfortable
Louisville weather is 23% more comfortable than Toledo
Louisville
Winner56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Louisville scores 23% 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 Toledo 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 7% higher ($66,849), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 56°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Louisville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Toledo (209 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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Louisville runs $1,120/month while Toledo sits at $934 — roughly 17% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Louisville-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Louisville's $1,120, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Between Louisville and Toledo, Toledo is ahead on housing cost — $934/month rent against $1,120. Lean Louisville instead when your $66,849 income offer in Louisville outweighs saving $186/month in Toledo.
With rent only $186 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($66,849 vs $62,224) and safety (38/100 vs 36/100) break the tie.
Common questions
Ready to move to Louisville?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Louisville when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Louisville and Toledo, plus other cities in KY and OH.
