No problem! I've been asking around, and talked to an intern that went to Louisville on Reddit that gave a nice explanation. I'll paste it in below. I do know a lot live within 10 minutes of walking/driving, but some live at places like St. Matthews who drive 20 minutes+ depending on traffic. I'm probably looking towards Bardstown road, as there are lots of food places, but I know a current MS1 who I'll be living with next year.
"As convenient as it would be, I would not recommend living within walking distance of campus. Some of the buildings are quite new and look nice, but the majority of the neighborhood is section 8 housing and has a high rate of crime. That being said, there are plenty of really great neighborhoods that are just a short drive away and are definitely a bike-able distance.
- The Highlands; this is the "cool" area of town. Bardstown Rd is full of coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and bars. There's a small theater in the neighborhood, as well as a grocery store. It is only ~10 minutes or less away from the medical school. The neighborhood is quite safe, but can also be somewhat expensive depending on the age/state of repair the apartment is in. A friend of mine lives in Grinstead Manor and it's very affordable, very nice--I'd give them a call.
- Butchertown. This is currently my neighborhood. It's is being gentrified and right now is full of industrial companies (copper, cement, and, yes, the meat packing plant from which it gets its name). So it has its downsides. But the apartments that are available here have usually been renovated recently (the upside of moving to a burgeoning neighborhood), the neighbors are great, and you are very close to the "Nulu" area of town. This is Market St, and has art galleries, interesting stores, delicious restaurants, and a few coffee shops/bakeries. It's very quiet and very close to school, and I love it.
- A lot of med students and residents live in River Oak or Highwood Place, both of them near each other and around a ~10-15 min drive from school. These are apartment complexes, so you're not really living in a neighborhood so much as a "resort." They do have amenities, though, like a pool and gym.
- There are other nice areas in town (St. Matthews, Crescent Hill, Hurstebourne, Springhurst), but they may be a little expensive, and are all about 20-25 minutes away from school.
- Germantown. This is a large neighborhood that is bordered by The Highlands, Downtown, and the UL undergrad campus. the houses here are small, many of them shotgun, and old. However, there is a whole lot of charm to this neighborhood, and I know that the neighbors are all very tight-nit and welcoming. There are some great restaurants and neighborhood bars here, as well as my favorite coffee shop in Louisville (Sunergos!). The area is safe, although probably less so than The Highlands.
Hope this helps! Good luck!"
