Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Households earn $5,280 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
69% less violent crime than Lancaster
Homes cost $121k less ($247,900 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,576)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $5,280/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$5,280
$71,367 vs $66,087/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
69% lower
262.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$121k less
$247,900 vs $368,800
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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 15 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 8 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 15. 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 Lancaster to Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $247,900 median home), income ($71,367 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 1,880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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