5.2 out of 10

Paris

38.2041519297331 -84.2669167725914
Great for
  • Eating Out
  • Cost of Living
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Childcare
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • Internet Access
  • Nightlife
  • Parking
  • Shopping Options
  • Medical Facilities
Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  •  

Reviews

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

"Plenty to eat, close to a bigger city, but not enough job opportunities for a young guy."

I looked at Paris a bit when considering various towns I might live in in Kentucky. Ultimately I couldn't find a job here, which is a big part of why I didn't end up living here, and I think that might be why the town isn't bigger than it is.

This isn't to say that Paris is super small. It's nice, it's comfortable, and there are a fair number of people, but whenever I visit Paris I think it feels smaller than it is. I could have commuted to Lexington, but I didn't want to drive that far every day (it's not a super long drive, but it's an extra half hour that I don't want to spend in my car). I suppose if you're cool with driving a bit this wouldn't be a big problem, but I don't love it.

The things that I was interested in with Paris is that it's pretty safe, quiet, and there are a fair number of places to eat. I really like the Rock Cafe. It's a really good small town breakfast place, and the prices are super reasonable. Don't expect to eat healthy (there may be healthy options on the menu, but I don't bother. The unhealthy stuff is too good.) but you can reasonably expect to eat well and not spend a ton. I love eggs with biscuits and gravy. You can get it here for next to nothing. It's genuinely awesome.

You can also find some fun things to do in Paris. You can go golfing at Houston Oaks, learn to kick some butt at Masterson's Martial Arts or just get in shape at Curves or Snap Fitness. I haven't spent much time in Bourbon Country Park, but it has looked nice enough the times I've been by. You can certainly get a bit of exercise in a few different ways in Paris.

I also don't know the most about the schools in Paris, though Paris Elementary is supposedly nice, and I think St. Marys is also good, but I don't hear a lot about them. Nothing exceptional, but I think they're okay.
Pros
  • Great breakfast at The Rock Cafe
  • Decent schools
  • Close to Lexington
  • Good restaurants
Cons
  • Not a ton of jobs in the town
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Close to Lexington, good restaurants and only a bit of crime!"

I'm going to break down my review of Paris into a few parts. It's not terribly far from my home of Lexington, about 20 miles or so, and only takes about a half an hour to get there, so I've been there more than once over the years.

The good: it's close to Lexington. Paris isn't terribly small, so they don't need Lexington as much as some other small towns, but this still helps quite a bit. The population is around 10,000, so there are a fair number of restaurants, but I have friends who commute to Lexington every day and love the wider selection of restaurants here.

In Paris, you can get a good bite to eat at Vardens Bistro, Clay's and Jerry's. Vardens is one of the main reasons I head over to Paris on occasion. They have a great menu, and it's one of the best restaurants within driving distance for me. I don't particularly like Perico's for Mexican food, and I don't think I've had any Chinese food here. I asked a buddy and he said there are Chinese restaurants, but he almost never goes to Great Wall. There are better options in Lexington.

Paris also has a bit of crime. Nothing alarming, but it's not one of the excessively small towns all around Kentucky. I don't have the exact crime statistics, but I know Paris has a bit more crime than other towns. That said, it's not like you have gang activity or organized crime running rampant. There's just more than I'd like.

You don't have a ton of job opportunities in Paris, but it's close proximity to Lexington helps a lot and I know a lot of people commute. It's not that bad a drive for a daily commute.

For attractions, Paris does have Hopewell Museum, which might not have any world famous art, but it does have a lot of great art from the area. It really helps set Paris apart and gives visitors and new residents a better idea of the town. Great stuff.

I'm not super negative on Paris. I don't think it's the safest place on Earth, but it's not super dangerous either. I like to check it out on occasion, and I certainly like getting a bite to eat here. I prefer it for a day visit, but you could make a happy life living here as well.
Pros
  • Good restaurants
  • Nice museum
  • Close to Lexington
Cons
  • More crime than I'd like
  • Not a ton of jobs in the town
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

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