Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
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
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $462k less ($247,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $633/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,698)
61% less violent crime than Long Beach
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $12,908/yr
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,908 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
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
61% lower
262.0 vs 676.4 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$462k less
$247,900 vs $709,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$12,908
$78,995 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (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. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 15 and Long Beach wins 8. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Long Beach, CA are about 1,899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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