Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
68% less violent crime than North Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,288)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,553 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $7,553/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$7,553
$66,087 vs $58,534/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
68% lower
262.0 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 5% 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 North Charleston 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($66,087 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and North Charleston, SC are about 432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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