Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
77% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Homes cost $81k less ($247,900 vs $328,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,267)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $10,245/yr
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $10,245 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
77% lower
262.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$81k less
$247,900 vs $328,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$10,245
$76,332 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 16 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $328,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Minneapolis, MN are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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