Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 20 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
20
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $49k less ($198,900 vs $247,900)
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $24,246/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Households earn $24,246 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (5.0%)
49% less violent crime than Hartford
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
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Median Home Value
$49k less
$198,900 vs $247,900
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$24,246
$66,087 vs $41,841/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
49% lower
262.0 vs 515.8 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 20 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 3 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 20. 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 Hartford to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $247,900 median home), income ($41,841 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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