Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 22 categories
Boulder
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,156 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $672k less ($247,900 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $788/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,853)
19% less violent crime than Boulder
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $14,156/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$14,156
$80,243 vs $66,087/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
19% lower
262.0 vs 322.3 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$672k less
$247,900 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 22 categories. Boulder wins 8 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14. 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 Boulder to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $247,900 median home), income ($80,243 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 1,122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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