Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($87,400 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($851 vs $1,065)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $28,816/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Households earn $28,816 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$161k less
$87,400 vs $247,900
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$28,816
$66,087 vs $37,271/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
83% lower
262.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 11.9% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,065 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 321,276 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland 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 Cleveland to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $247,900 median home), income ($37,271 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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