Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
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)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,238 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $23k less ($224,900 vs $247,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 42°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $3,238/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$3,238
$66,087 vs $62,849/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Norman
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$23k less
$224,900 vs $247,900
Norman
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 12 and Norman wins 11. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $224,900 median home), income ($66,087 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Norman, OK are about 739 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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