Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Oakland
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $636k less ($247,900 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $784/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,849)
86% less violent crime than Oakland
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $28,302/yr
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,302 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
86% lower
262.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$636k less
$247,900 vs $883,800
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$28,302
$94,389 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 15 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $883,800 median home), income ($66,087 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Oakland, CA are about 2,045 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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