Skip to main content
MoveScore
Home›Best Overall Cities›Kentucky

Best Overall Cities in Kentucky

3 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in Kentucky

  1. #1
    B

    Lexington

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  2. #2
    B

    Louisville

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

  3. #3
    C

    Bowling Green

    Best Overall Cities score 69 · MoveScore 69

Other Kentucky Rankings

Best for Safety in Kentucky

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in Kentucky

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in Kentucky

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in Kentucky

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in Kentucky

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in Kentucky

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Kentucky ranks highest for best overall cities?

Lexington, KY ranks #1 in Kentucky for best overall cities with a sub-score of 74/100 (MoveScore 74, grade B).

How many cities in Kentucky are compared?

3 Kentucky cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Kentucky-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.