Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 22 categories
Irving
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $10,599 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 42°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,423)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $10,599/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$10,599
$76,686 vs $66,087/yr
Irving
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
5% lower
262.0 vs 275.4 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$12k less
$247,900 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 22 categories. Irving wins 9 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 13. 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 Irving to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $247,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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