Below Average CostNear National AverageDavidson County Schools
Lexington, North Carolina Main Street · Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0William R. Holt Homestead, Lexington, North Carolina · Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0Lexington Barbecue Festival - more pigs · Dennis Brown (Dennis Brown) / CC BY 3.0Abbottscreek · Pharmboy at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5
Lexington is a small city of 19,595 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $36,868
and a 6.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lexington stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lexington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lexington city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.4
Lexington's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lexington costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lexington, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$141,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$827
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
39.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$36,868
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Lexington's violent crime rate is 437.2 per 100,000 residents
— 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
437.2 /100k
Property Crime
3020.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lexington is served primarily by Davidson County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lexington, NC
National Avg
School District
Davidson County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
18
—
Middle Schools
6
—
High Schools
10
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lexington sees average highs of 51.5°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 45.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.3 inches of snow per year.
Lexington's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lexington roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $141,500 and median rent is $827/month.
Lexington's violent crime rate is 437.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3020.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lexington are operated by Davidson County Schools.
The district has 18 elementary, 6 middle, and 10 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lexington, NC has a population of 19,595, a median household income of $36,868, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lexington averages 51.5°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.5 inches
with about 3.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lexington, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27292.
The population of Lexington, North Carolina is 19,595 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lexington: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $141,500, median household income $36,868, crime index 127 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lexington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
