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Idle Hour

Idle Hour

Suburban Neighborhood in Lexington, Kentucky

Fayette County 40502

$317,505 Average Value
$198 Average Price per Sq Ft
2 Homes For Sale

A Lexington neighborhood that doesn’t stay put

Despite its name, Idle Hour is a community that hardly stays put. The neighborhood shares its name with the Idle Hour Country Club, a private 18-hole golf course that has been a part of the community since 1946. In addition to the country club, this Lexington neighborhood also features a 23-acre park and a multi-purpose senior center facility that opened in 2016 to meet the needs of its aging population. Elderly residents here often walk through Idle Hour Park to reach the Lexington Senior Center. Free to anyone over 60 years old, the center offers spaces for cardio, strength training and games like cornhole and billiards. The community also takes its landscaping seriously and has an organization that actively recruits volunteers to help maintain their neighborhood’s curb appeal. “It is a great, highly walkable, mixed-use neighborhood. It’s the cutest neighborhood in the city,” says Kristy Stambaugh, Lexington’s director of Aging and Disabilities Services.

Idle Hour has a Bike Score® of 45 out of 100.
Idle Hour has a Bike Score® of 45 out of 100.
The Lexington Senior Center provides activities and classes for Idle Hour residents over 60.
The Lexington Senior Center provides activities and classes for Idle Hour residents over 60.
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Post-World War II era homes

The majority of the Idle Hour neighborhood was developed during the post-World War II housing surge. Prioritized with the arrival of the city's former IBM plant in the 1950s, housing styles reflected the era and consist primarily of ranch-style and midcentury designs. Lots near the golf course start out at a half-acre and normally include upscale features like long looping driveways and neatly trimmed bushes. Maintained by volunteers throughout the year, the medians along St. Ann and St. Margaret Drive are home to oak and pine trees, and often feature seasonally appropriate plantings, like bright red tulips in the spring. The Idle Hour Neighborhood Alliance organizes a Yard of the Month contest, and volunteers — humorously named “Landscape Ninjas” — can perform mowing and trimming work for homeowners who don’t have the resources or the time. Homes throughout the neighborhood run roughly between $200,000 and $300,000, however, homes near the course can reach between $400,000 and $630,000.

A row of ranch homes
A row of ranch homes
A renovated ranch-style home with a garage in Idle Hour
A renovated ranch-style home with a garage in Idle Hour
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A myriad of neighborhood recreational facilities

Membership to the Idle Country Club requires an invitation and board approval. In addition to its pristine 18-hole course, members can enjoy other activities like swimming or tennis. In keeping with the region’s equestrian culture, each of the course’s holes is named in honor of a previous champion racehorse. Nearby, families enjoy spending time at Idle Hour Park, which features a playground, pickleball courts and several fields used by youth baseball, football and lacrosse teams. Adult fitness stations exist along the park’s trail, allowing walkers or runners to supplement their regimen with calisthenics and other similar workouts. The various activities at the Senior Center range from over 50 weekly group fitness classes to gardening programs, the latter of which is particularly beneficial to adults with dementia. “It’s one of the happiest places on earth,” Stambaugh says about the facility.

An outdoor workout station at Idle Hour Park
An outdoor workout station at Idle Hour Park
Idle Hour Park is a great spot for basketball in the area
Idle Hour Park is a great spot for basketball in the area
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Late-night hangouts at O’Neill’s and Austin City Saloon

Several shopping centers with chain restaurants and retailers are located within 2 miles of the neighborhood. Asian cuisine options include KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, where patrons cook their meats using tabletop grills. The popular Viva Mexico serves margaritas and plates of authentic street-style tacos. After lunch or dinner, many here can grab a bubble tea at Sharetea Lexington. O’Neill’s is an Idle Hour institution that brands itself as a gateway to downtown. In addition to burgers and brews, regulars can play trivia and enjoy live music. The Austin City Saloon is another stopping point for local and visiting bands alike. Here patrons enjoy donning boots, Stetson hats and Wrangler jeans while they enjoy cold drinks and play pool in this Western-themed bar. Kroger and Sam’s Club are among the nearest grocery stores.

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse is a local favorite in Idle Hour
Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse is a local favorite in Idle Hour
O'Neill's offers Idle Hour diners screens for sports, a patio, and regular live music.
O'Neill's offers Idle Hour diners screens for sports, a patio, and regular live music.
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Home to Breckinridge Elementary School

Breckinridge Elementary is the neighborhood school and gets a B from ratings site Niche. Students can take Spanish twice a week and learn about Hispanic culture. The school also receives a great deal of community support. For example, the Lexington Senior Center has volunteered to collect donated Valentine’s Day cards for families who can’t afford them. Students here may attend Crawford Middle School before finishing their secondary education at Henry Clay High School. Crawford Middle and Henry Clay High receive grades of C-plus and A, respectively, from Niche. Henry Clay houses the rigorous Liberal Arts Academy, which presents a curriculum requiring students to take at least 10 Advanced Placement courses. Due to the strong academics, Niche ranks Henry Clay among the top five best college prep public high schools in the state.

Madeline M. Breckinridge Elementary School is in the center of Idle Hour
Madeline M. Breckinridge Elementary School is in the center of Idle Hour
Crawford Middle School is home to the Cougars
Crawford Middle School is home to the Cougars
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Idle Hour annual picnic and yard sale

In addition to the cleanups and monthly yard contests, Idle Hour also hosts social events throughout the year. The neighborhood’s annual picnic occurs each June, when neighbors grab their blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy pizza, drinks and desserts under the shade of the park's oak trees. In September, residents hunt for second-hand goods and bargains at the Idle Hour Neighborhood Yard Sale. For some history, the community is also just down the street from the historic Henry Clay Estate, which features seasonal celebrations like their Jazz on the Lawn concert held over Labor Day weekend.

Bounded by Richmond and New Circle roads

Although many here drive, the Lextran has numerous bus stops throughout Idle Hour. The neighborhood sits right along Richmond Road, which goes straight to downtown Lexington about 3 miles to the north. Idle Hour is also bounded by New Circle Road, which serves as a beltway within the city. New Circle goes toward destinations like the Blue Grass Airport, about 13 miles west of the neighborhood. Idle Hour is about 4 miles from Baptist Health and Albert B. Chandler hospitals. Chandler is UK HealthCare’s flagship facility, providing the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.

Important to know

Idle Hour has an overall CAP Index score of 4 out of 10, putting it on par with the national average.

Yann Ranaivo
Written By
Yann Ranaivo
Ryan Minion
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Minion
Charlie Lingner
Video By
Charlie Lingner

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Schools

Source:
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 Clay Thomas, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Blue Grass

21 min drive

Bus

St Ann & Richmond (Walgreen's)

Bus

Life Lane & Coburn (Scc) Outbound

Bus

Saint Michael & 2109

Bus

Saint Ann & Saint Mathilda Outbound

Bus

Saint Margaret & Coburn Outound

Bus

Saint Margaret & 158 Outbound

Bus

Saint Margaret & 249 Inbound

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Idle Hour US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 3 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$288,650
Median Single Family Price
$294,900
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$198
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Last 12 months Home Sales
12
Months of Supply
2.00
Median List Price
$292,450
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
14%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
492
Median Year Built
1957
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,843
On par with the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,766
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,890

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Clay Thomas, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
1,302
Median Age
41
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$49,210
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$63,543

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
97.6%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
41%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.6%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
50''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
26''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

45 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

37 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

34 / 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.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Idle Hour