Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ 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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $23,125 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $437k less ($247,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $916/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,981)
58% less violent crime than Boston
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $23,125/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$23,125
$89,212 vs $66,087/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
58% lower
262.0 vs 627.9 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$437k less
$247,900 vs $684,900
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 321,276 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston 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 Boston to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $247,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Boston, MA vs Quincy, MA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Boston, MA vs Worcester, MA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Stockton, CA
Boston, MA vs Springfield, MA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Henderson, NV
Boston, MA vs Cambridge, MA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Corpus Christi, TX