Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326
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 $265k less ($247,900 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $11,983/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,983 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
4% lower
262.0 vs 272.2 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$265k less
$247,900 vs $513,000
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$11,983
$78,070 vs $66,087/yr
Ontario
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14 and Ontario wins 9. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $513,000 median home), income ($66,087 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Ontario, CA are about 1,862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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