Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
16
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,879 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($247,900 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,742)
46% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $20,879/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$20,879
$86,966 vs $66,087/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
46% lower
262.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$231k less
$247,900 vs $478,400
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories. Kent wins 7 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 16. 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 Kent to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $247,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 2,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Kent, WA vs Bellevue, WA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Kent, WA vs Everett, WA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Stockton, CA
Kent, WA vs Renton, WA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Henderson, NV
Kent, WA vs Spokane Valley, WA
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Corpus Christi, TX