Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
6
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.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $58,450 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($247,900 vs $458,700)
Rent averages $830/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,895)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $58,450/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$58,450
$124,537 vs $66,087/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$211k less
$247,900 vs $458,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 14 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 6. 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 Columbia to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $247,900 median home), income ($124,537 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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