Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $47,092 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $408k less ($247,900 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $918/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,983)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $47,092/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$47,092
$113,179 vs $66,087/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
16% lower
219.1 vs 262.0 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$408k less
$247,900 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Alexandria wins 11 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $247,900 median home), income ($113,179 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Alexandria, VA vs Hampton, VA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Alexandria, VA vs Newport News, VA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Stockton, CA
Alexandria, VA vs Roanoke, VA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Henderson, NV
Alexandria, VA vs Portsmouth, VA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Corpus Christi, TX