Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 18 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($247,900 vs $358,400)
36% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,390)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$6,148
$66,087 vs $59,939/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
36% lower
262.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$111k less
$247,900 vs $358,400
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 18 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 4 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 Elizabeth to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $247,900 median home), income ($59,939 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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