Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 22 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Memphis
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
90% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $17,997 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($139,600 vs $247,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $17,997/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$17,997
$66,087 vs $48,090/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
90% lower
262.0 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$108k less
$139,600 vs $247,900
Memphis
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 22 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14 and Memphis 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $139,600 median home), income ($66,087 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Memphis, TN are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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