Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $12,598 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($247,900 vs $409,700)
72% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $586/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,651)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $12,598/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$12,598
$78,685 vs $66,087/yr
Aurora
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
72% lower
262.0 vs 947.8 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$162k less
$247,900 vs $409,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 321,276 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 8 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 15. 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 Aurora to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $247,900 median home), income ($78,685 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 1,094 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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