Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 22 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,761 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($158,700 vs $247,900)
43% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 42°F
Rent averages $110/mo less ($955 vs $1,065)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $9,761/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$9,761
$66,087 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
43% lower
150.0 vs 262.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$89k less
$158,700 vs $247,900
McAllen
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 22 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 10 and McAllen wins 12. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $158,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and McAllen, TX are about 1,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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