Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 18 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($212,500 vs $247,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $3,093/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
40% less violent crime than Columbus
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,161)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 37°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Home Value
$35k less
$212,500 vs $247,900
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$3,093
$66,087 vs $62,994/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
40% lower
262.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 321,276 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 18 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 5 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 18. 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 Columbus to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $247,900 median home), income ($62,994 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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