Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
46% less violent crime than Raleigh
Homes cost $99k less ($247,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,371)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $12,544/yr
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $12,544 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
46% lower
262.0 vs 488.8 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$99k less
$247,900 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$12,544
$78,631 vs $66,087/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 5% 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $347,000 median home), income ($66,087 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Raleigh, NC are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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