$571,231Average Value$183Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
An active neighborhood just south of the University of Kentucky
President of the Southern Heights Neighborhood Association, Andy Mead, moved into this community 30 years ago when he’d just had twins and needed a larger house. He liked the school district, so he decided to make the move. Located 3 miles south of downtown Lexington and a mile south of the University of Kentucky (UK), Mead describes Southern Heights as "A beautiful neighborhood and a great place to raise kids. When I moved in, it was mostly older people, but that has changed a lot. There are many more kids in the neighborhood now.” In his 30-year residence, Mead has become increasingly involved with the neighborhood’s social activities, like its twice-a-year block parties and other efforts organized by the neighborhood association. Their most recent project is one he believes to be representative of Southern Heights’ spirit: “Early next month, we’re dedicating a 5-foot steel sculpture of a turkey named Dorothy who showed up here just before the pandemic began,” he says. “She was all over the neighborhood – crossing streets, jumping over fences. She wasn’t afraid of people. It was nice because people were staying home or going on socially distanced walks and would see Dorothy crossing the street. She died a couple years ago, so we got a committee to talk to civil sculptors to make a statue of her.”
Shaded streets give Southern Heights residents a wonderful area to walk their dogs.
Active Southern Heights residents enjoy a warm day at The Arboretum.
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Property values keep going up for Southern Heights’ 20th-century single-family homes
Southern Heights is comprised almost entirely of single-family homes built between the 1920s and 1950s. Mature trees shade the sidewalks, and tidy lawns accompany Southern Heights' many brick ranch-style, Cape Cod and Colonial Revival homes. A few Tudor Revival and American Foursquare designs are also found here. Property values in Southern Heights are significantly higher than in Lexington at large, with the average home value costing almost $200,000 more than the average price in the metro area. Typically, property values in Southern Heights range from around $450,000 to $800,000, but the pandemic brought on a price surge that hasn’t seemed to shift. “Property values are going up and up and up,” Mead says. “There was one house that sold for $1 million a few years ago. Several in the last year sold for $800,000 to $900,000, and a pretty small house sold for $775,000.” He notes that the market is competitive. “I ran into a friend who put an offer in for a house on my street. He said he offered more than the listing price and they said, ‘No, thank you.’”
Some 2-story homes are available in Southern Heights.
Cottages dominate the housing selection in Southern Heights.
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A new campus for Henry Clay High School
Students in Southern Heights attend the highly rated Fayette County Public Schools, where the district receives an overall A-minus grade from Niche. Kids start at Glendover Elementary School, which receives an A-minus rating, before continuing on to Morton Middle School, which also earns an A grade and ranks as the third-best public middle school in the Lexington area according to Niche. The A-minus-rated Henry Clay High School is also listed as Niche’s third-best public high school in the Lexington area. “Henry Clay High School is a good school,” Mead says. “They’re getting ready to build a new campus because the building’s getting old.” Construction will begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed by winter of 2028. The new three-story campus will have more windows, hallways and outdoor learning areas including a potential amphitheater. Henry Clay High is also home to the Liberal Arts Academy, a gifted and talented program for students with identified strengths in language arts and mathematics. In 2024, the program had 36 AP scholars with distinction, 30 AP capstone diploma recipients,14 Seal of biliteracy recipients and six National Merit Semifinalists.
The AP® participation rate at Henry Clay High School is 49%.
The AP® participation rate at Henry Clay High School is 49%.
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Live alongside The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
“Being close to the arboretum is a real plus,” Mead says. “When my kids got to middle school, they would come home and say, ‘We have friends who have never been to the arboretum – how is that possible?’” Bordering Southern Heights to the north and east, this 100-acre green space offers 2 miles of trails through native plant life representing Kentucky’s seven regions, with informational signage educating visitors about the state’s various ecosystems. The arboretum's official name – The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky – also includes a half-mile trail through its 15-acre Arboretum Woods, and an Inner Bluegrass Woodland with trees dating back 400 years. The arboretum’s Kentucky Children’s Garden is a 2-acre interactive play space where children can learn about the state's natural and manmade landscapes. For indoor fun, residents can head to Southland Lanes, a bowling alley less than a mile west, or they can opt to sign up for a gym membership at Planet Fitness, less than a mile south. Nearby, Shilito Park has a playground, disc golf course and a swimming pool, while Wellington Park has 7 acres of off-leash space for pups to roam.
The Arboretum is a 100 acre garden operated by the university next door to Southern Heights.
Wellington Park has over 7 acres of space for your furry friends.
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Dining along Nicholasville and Southland Drive and shopping at the Fayette Mall
Southern Heights’ nearest grocery stores are the Trader Joe’s and Kroger on Nicholasville Road. Or for those who prefer to shop locally, they can pick-up groceries at the Good Foods Co-op, which sources produce and artisan-made food items from local Kentucky farmers. Dining options just south of the neighborhood include Ramsey’s Diner, which serves homestyle Southern cuisine including the classic Kentucky hot brown and pies for dessert. El Rancho Tapatio, a family-owned Mexican restaurant features two-for-one margaritas on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. A mile west, additional dining can be found along Southland Drive at restaurants like Southland Bagel, the Chicago-style beef sandwich shop South of Wrigley, and the Critchfield Meats Family Market, a local butchery. For retail shopping, residents head 3 miles south to the Fayette Mall, Kentucky’s largest shopping center with nearly 200 stores to choose from, or they head to The Summit, an upscale mixed-use development with retailers like Anthropologie, Ariat, and Arhaus.
Southern Heights residents can walk to Trader Joe's for groceries.
Winchell's has been a neighborhood favorite for over 30 years.
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Adjacent to hospitals and the University of Kentucky
Southern Heights is a car-dependent neighborhood a mile south of the University of Kentucky and 3 miles south of downtown Lexington. “A number of people who live here are UK professors or staff,” Mead says. “We’re also adjacent to Baptist Health, which is a large hospital, and the UK Hospital is about 3 miles away.” Residents can walk to the UK campus in about 15 minutes or take the Lextran bus to get to downtown in 30. Nicholasville Road, one of Lexington’s main thoroughfares, borders Southern Heights to the west and connects residents to the UK campus and downtown, and the major retail hubs at the Fayette Mall and The Summit. The Blue Grass Airport is 6 miles west.
UK Heathcare operates several hospitals just to the north of Southern Heights neighborhood.
Baptist Health is known as a leader in heart and cancer care.
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Twice-a-year block parties and University of Kentucky football
“We have block parties twice a year in the spring and fall, so a lot of old friends will come out and there will be food trucks and music,” Mead says. “We tell people that and they say, ‘Twice-a-year parties? We’d like to live there.” Aside from block parties, University of Kentucky sports are another binding force for the neighborhood. Though the Wildcats are known for their men’s basketball team – which holds NCAA records for best all-time winning percentage and most all-time victories – football season brings this neighborhood together, with Kroger Field just a 20-minute walk away. “We can hear football games from our backyard,” Mead says.
Crime
Southern Heights' crime score of 4 out of 10 on the CAP Index is on par with the national average.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
David Humes,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Woodland Park
Shillito Park
The Arboretum
Elizabeth Park
Wellington Park
Pensacola Park
Legacy Trail
Transit
Airport
Blue Grass
18 min drive
Southern Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Southern Heights, Lexington sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Southern Heights, Lexington over the last 12 months is $206,000, down 72% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Located in the sought-after Tahoma Terrace neighborhood, this charming one-family owned home offers timeless appeal and modern updates. Featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 beautifully updated full bathrooms, the home combines comfort with convenience. Enjoy a generous lot with a large, private backyard—perfect for outdoor entertaining or gardening. The main-floor laundry room is oversized and practical,
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
David Humes,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
496
Median Age
43
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$70,178
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$109,237
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97%
College Graduates
74.9%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
47.2%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.8%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
50''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
26''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
71/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
57/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
57/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
