Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
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.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,861 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $778k less ($247,900 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1684/mo less ($1,065 vs $2,749)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $56,861/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$56,861
$122,948 vs $66,087/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
68% lower
84.0 vs 262.0 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$778k less
$247,900 vs $1,025,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories. Irvine wins 11 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 12. 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 Irvine to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $247,900 median home), income ($122,948 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 1,879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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