Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
25% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Homes cost $18k less ($230,400 vs $247,900)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
25% lower
262.0 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$1,759
$67,846 vs $66,087/yr
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$18k less
$230,400 vs $247,900
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 290,531 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 12 and Lincoln wins 11. 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $230,400 median home), income ($66,087 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Lincoln, NE are about 679 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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