Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 18 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
44% less violent crime than Norfolk
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $5,089/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$5,089
$66,087 vs $60,998/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
44% lower
262.0 vs 469.5 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 18 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 18 and Norfolk wins 5. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $254,200 median home), income ($66,087 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Norfolk, VA are about 457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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