Midway
Kentucky's Oldest Railroad Town
Why People Move Here
Midway is Kentucky's oldest railroad town, laid out in 1835 by the Lexington & Ohio Railroad at the geographic midpoint between Lexington and Frankfort. With a population of roughly 1,770 and active rail tracks running straight down Main Street, the town packs a James Beard-recognized restaurant (Holly Hill Inn), boutique shopping, Midway University, and a direct 20-minute I-64 commute to downtown Lexington into a few walkable blocks.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Woodford County Public Schools
A#60 best public district in Kentucky (Niche)
- Northside Elementary School in Midway (500 Northside Drive, PK–5, ~376 students)
- Northside offers Gifted & Talented and Project Lead The Way curriculum
- 2023–24 Northside reading proficiency: 51% grade 3, 57% grade 4, 66% grade 5 (above state averages)
Midway University (private liberal arts college)
- Founded 1849 as Kentucky Female Orphan School
- Formerly the only four-year women's college in Kentucky; fully coeducational since 2016
- ~1,500 students, located in town
FAQ — Midway
How long is the commute from Midway to downtown Lexington?
About 20 minutes off-peak via I-64 east (exit 65), covering roughly 17 miles. Frankfort is a similar 20-minute drive west on US-62, and the Toyota plant in Georgetown is about 15 minutes away via KY-341.
What is the median home price in Midway?
About $325K–$375K as of 2025. Redfin reported a median sale price of $332,500 in July 2025 (down 3.3% year over year), while the 12-month average sale price was $372,245. Tiny inventory means a handful of high-end listings can swing the numbers materially.
What schools serve Midway?
Woodford County Public Schools (Niche grade A, ranked #60 statewide) runs Northside Elementary at 500 Northside Drive, a PK-5 school with about 376 students. Older students attend Woodford County Middle and Woodford County High in Versailles. Verify enrollment eligibility by address.
What restaurants and shops are in downtown Midway?
Holly Hill Inn at 426 N Winter Street was a 2025 James Beard Outstanding Hospitality semifinalist and keeps a 100-plus bottle bourbon library. Wallace Station serves oversized deli sandwiches on Old Frankfort Pike. Main Street features Heirloom Restaurant, The Brown Barrel & Blind Harry's, Midway Bakery & Cafe, Spotz Gelato, and rows of antique shops and galleries flanking the active rail line.
What horse farms are near Midway?
Airdrie Stud, Three Chimneys Farm, and Lane's End Farm — three of the most valuable thoroughbred breeding operations in the world — are all within minutes of Midway. Tours are available through Visit Horse Country for several of the surrounding farms.
What are the crime statistics in Midway?
CrimeGrade.org places Midway in the 74th safety percentile nationally (safer than 74% of cities), with violent and property crime rates below Kentucky and US averages during a typical year.
What is Midway University?
A private liberal arts college of about 1,500 students, founded in 1849 as the Kentucky Female Orphan School. It was the only four-year women's college in Kentucky until becoming fully coeducational in 2016 and is located in the town.
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