Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
9
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,052 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $823k less ($247,900 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1412/mo less ($1,065 vs $2,477)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $68,052/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$68,052
$134,139 vs $66,087/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
24% lower
199.1 vs 262.0 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$823k less
$247,900 vs $1,070,500
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 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, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 9. 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 Carlsbad to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $247,900 median home), income ($134,139 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 1,865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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