The Highlands Real Estate Guide
What to Love About The Highlands
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Walkable streets with Louisville's highest concentration of restaurants, bars, and local shops along Bardstown Road
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Historic architecture including Victorian homes, shotgun houses, bungalows, and camelback designs from the late 1800s and early 1900s
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Direct access to Cherokee Park, a 409-acre Frederick Law Olmsted-designed green space with scenic trails and recreational facilities
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Strong property values with median home prices around $300,000 to $333,000 and consistent year-over-year appreciation
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Minutes from downtown Louisville with an average commute time of just 17 minutes
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Active community events including the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Louisville Pride Parade, Bardstown Road Aglow, and the Cherokee Triangle Concert Series
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Investment-friendly market with multi-family properties and rental demand from young professionals
Real Estate and Homes in The Highlands
The Highlands is one of Louisville's most sought-after neighborhoods for homebuyers, and inventory tends to move quickly. As of mid-2025, the median sale price in The Highlands sits around $300,000 to $333,000, with homes averaging about 35 to 37 days on market. Year-over-year appreciation has remained solid, with recent data showing gains of 13% or more in certain periods. Buyers should expect competition on well-priced properties, particularly those with updated interiors and original architectural details intact.
Home prices in The Highlands span a wide range. Entry-level properties, including smaller shotgun homes and condos, start in the low $100,000s. Most single-family homes fall between $250,000 and $500,000. Larger Victorian residences, renovated multi-family properties, and homes in premium micro-neighborhoods like Cherokee Triangle can exceed $800,000 to over $1 million. The average price per square foot hovers around $242, making it one of the higher-value markets in the Louisville metro area.
Architectural Styles and Housing Stock
The Highlands developed primarily between 1884 and 1930 on farmland that once overlooked Louisville. This history shows in the housing stock. Victorian homes are the most prominent style, particularly Queen Anne variants with ornate woodwork, asymmetrical facades, tall windows, and expansive porches. These homes are concentrated in the Original Highlands area and throughout Cherokee Triangle.
Shotgun houses are equally common, especially in the Original Highlands and Irish Hill sections. These narrow, rectangular homes were built to house factory workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Louisville now has more shotgun houses than any other U.S. city. Many have been fully renovated with modern kitchens, updated bathrooms, and open floor plans while retaining their historic exteriors and efficient layouts.
Camelback homes are another signature style. These shotgun-style houses have a second story added to the rear, creating additional bedroom space while maintaining the traditional street-facing profile. Buyers will also find traditional bungalows, ranch-style homes from mid-century development, and brick colonials scattered throughout the neighborhood. The overall character is architecturally significant, and many streets feel like walking through a living museum of American residential design from 1880 to 1950.
Micro-Neighborhoods Within The Highlands
The Highlands is actually a collection of smaller neighborhoods, each with its own personality. The Original Highlands is the oldest section, located between Baxter Avenue and Barret Avenue. This area has the densest concentration of Victorian brick homes and shotgun houses, often sitting side by side. It also provides the most direct access to the Bardstown Road restaurant and nightlife corridor.
Cherokee Triangle is a historic preservation district bordering Cherokee Park and Cave Hill Cemetery. This area features large Victorian mansions, historic apartment buildings, and some of the most expensive real estate in The Highlands. Median prices here run significantly higher than the neighborhood average. Tyler Park offers a quieter residential feel with its own Olmsted-designed green space. Bonnycastle and Deer Park provide family-friendly streets with mature trees and well-maintained single-family homes. The Highlands-Douglass area extends further south along Bardstown Road and includes Douglass Loop, a popular gathering spot with restaurants and local businesses.
Investment Considerations
The Highlands performs well for both owner-occupants and investors. Multi-family properties, including duplexes and triplexes, are available throughout the neighborhood, many converted from original single-family Victorian homes. Average rents for one-bedroom apartments in The Highlands run around $1,100 to $1,300 per month, with two-bedrooms commanding $1,400 or more. The rental market benefits from steady demand driven by young professionals, students, and service industry workers who want walkable access to Bardstown Road.
Buyers should be aware that homes in this market move quickly. Properties that are priced correctly and show well often receive multiple offers within the first week. Working with an agent who knows The Highlands specifically can provide access to upcoming listings and help buyers act decisively. Renovation projects are also popular here, with investors purchasing older shotgun or Victorian homes and updating them for resale or rental income.
Lifestyle and Local Highlights
Living in The Highlands means having Louisville's best walkable corridor in your backyard. Bardstown Road stretches 3.2 miles through the neighborhood and holds the city's highest density of restaurants, bars, and locally owned shops. Locals call it Restaurant Row. You can find everything from James Beard Award-winning fine dining to casual neighborhood pizza joints, international cuisine, craft breweries, and coffee shops. Standout destinations include Jack Fry's (open since the 1930s), Ramsi's Cafe on the World, Seviche, and Highland Morning for brunch.
Shopping options run toward independent boutiques, vintage stores, and specialty retailers. Carmichael's Bookstore is a beloved independent seller. Electric Ladyland has been a fixture since 1978. Vintage and thrift shopping draws crowds to spots like Acorn Apparel, The Capsule, and hey tiger. Art galleries, record shops, and gift stores fill the remaining storefronts. The Highlands embraces the "Keep Louisville Weird" slogan, and the business district reflects that identity with one-of-a-kind shops you will not find in suburban malls.
Cherokee Park is the neighborhood's outdoor anchor. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1891, the 409-acre park includes a 2.4-mile scenic loop popular with runners, cyclists, and dog walkers. The park also has sports courts, a nine-hole golf course, and picnic areas. Tyler Park provides a smaller green space closer to the Original Highlands, with playgrounds and open lawns. Cave Hill Cemetery, established in 1848, doubles as an arboretum and historic landmark where residents walk among monuments to figures like Muhammad Ali and Colonel Harland Sanders.
The Highlands hosts several annual events that draw crowds from across Louisville. The Highlands St. Patrick's Day Parade fills Bardstown Road each March. The Louisville Pride Festival takes place in the neighborhood. Bardstown Road Aglow brings holiday lights and seasonal shopping on the first Saturday of December. The Cherokee Triangle Concert Series runs through the summer months. Year-round, the Bardstown Road Farmers Market provides local produce, baked goods, and artisan products.
Schools and Families
The Highlands falls within Jefferson County Public Schools, the largest district in Kentucky. Families have access to neighborhood schools as well as magnet and choice programs throughout the district. Highland Middle School serves grades 6-8 in the area. Phoenix School of Discovery is a choice school recognized as a Kentucky Department of Education School of Distinction. Louisville Male High School, one of the top-rated public high schools in Kentucky, is accessible to Highlands residents. Private options including Highlands Latin School provide additional choices for families prioritizing education.
Getting Around
The Highlands is one of Louisville's most walkable neighborhoods. Daily errands, dining, and entertainment are accessible on foot for most residents living near Bardstown Road or Baxter Avenue. TARC (Transit Authority of River City) provides frequent bus service along the main corridors, connecting The Highlands to downtown Louisville and other neighborhoods. Average commute times to downtown run about 17 minutes by car. I-64 borders the neighborhood to the north, and I-264 (Henry Watterson Expressway) provides access to the east, making it easy to reach other parts of the metro area.
The Bottom Line
The Highlands offers a combination of historic character, walkability, and community atmosphere that is difficult to replicate elsewhere in Louisville. Buyers gain access to one of the city's most active restaurant and entertainment districts while living on tree-lined residential streets with architecturally significant homes. Property values have remained stable with consistent appreciation, and demand remains strong across price points. For buyers looking for an urban neighborhood that maintains a distinct identity and strong sense of place, The Highlands delivers.
