4.4 out of 10

Carlisle

38.3168119812024 -84.0310269385871
Great for
  • Cost of Living
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
  • Lack of Traffic
Not great for
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Nightlife
  • Shopping Options
  • Eating Out
  • Internet Access
Who lives here?
  • Retirees
  • Families with kids
  • Country Lovers
  •  
  •  

Reviews

2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"More than lucky to have larger towns nearby"

Carlisle is about 40 miles from my home of Lexington, and it's a nice enough little town that, like the previous reviewer mentioned, is really lucky to be so close to Lexington. I wouldn't say it's exactly close to Louisville, but it's certainly close enough to Lexington for a daily commute for work, to get a bite to eat or just enjoy some time with friends.

Carlisle isn't a terribly large town, with less than 2,000 residents, and while it's very pretty and has a lovely main street, it isn't the best place to visit. Not because of safety or friendliness. Carlisle has both of those in spades. Rather, there's very little to do here. Ladobees Steak House is okay at best, EZ Riders Pizza is very common and there aren't any nightlife options available for residents. I like small towns, but this one is a bit too sleepy for me. I've lived in Lexington for many years, and I've visited Carlisle on occasion, but it has never really impressed me.

I have had lunch at the Jailer's Home once or twice, and that's fairly interesting and sets Carlisle apart from some other towns. But that's about it.

Carlisle is safe for sure, and it's an inexpensive place to live. The schools are adequate at best, but certainly nothing to write home about. Carlisle County High School isn't very big or impressive, and the same thing goes for the public middle school and elementary school. There is a private Christian school that has a few fans, but I've never considered that terribly good either.

I'd say Carlisle is extremely lucky to be so close to Lexington. Otherwise no one would ever visit or want to live there.
Pros
  • Beautiful and Quiet
  • Close to Lexington
  • Extremely Safe
Cons
  • Poor educational options
  • Not a lot of restaurants
Recommended for
  • Retirees
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 1/5
  • Internet Access 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Lucky to be so close to Lexington!"

Carlisle is a nice rural town that benefits greatly from its close proximity to Lexington, and it's not too distant from Louisville either, so there's this feeling that you can get to more exciting places while at the same time enjoying the quieter, more peaceful life of the country.

This really gives Carlisle an awesome blend and makes it quite popular with the locals. As a small town, it's certainly quiet, but it's also super safe. I can't remember ever hearing about a crime around here. That doesn't mean it never happens, but it's rare.

The cost of living in Carlisle is also very low, and I can't imagine many people struggling to pay their bills, though the tine population and lack of a large number of businesses will limit your job opportunities. Still, you can find nice homes for extremely reasonable prices, most in the $100K range, though there are a few decent spots cheaper than that. Try beating that in many places!

It's actually a huge blessing that Carlisle is so close to Lexington, as there isn't a ton to do here. There are a few decent restaurants, like Ladobees Steak House and EZ Riders Pizza, but you'll be fairly limited in selection and will most likely head over to Lexington to find more to eat.

I'd say it's this nice balance of country life with the not-too-far-a-drive excitement of a bigger city that gives Carlisle much of its charm. It's very beautiful here, and you can always visit the Kentucky Doll Museum (seriously) if you want to try something different!
Pros
  • Beautiful and Quiet
  • Extremely Safe
  • Close to Lexington
Cons
  • Not as much to do IN the town
  • Few fitness options
  • Not a lot of restaurants
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Country Lovers

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