Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $16,186/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
38% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $16,186 more per year on average
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,357)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$16,186
$66,087 vs $49,901/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
38% lower
262.0 vs 424.8 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$29k less
$247,900 vs $277,200
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 9 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14. 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 Hemet to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $247,900 median home), income ($49,901 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 1,836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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