Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
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 $1192k less ($247,900 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1776/mo less ($1,065 vs $2,841)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
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 Santa Clara by $99,265/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $99,265 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$1192k less
$247,900 vs $1,440,200
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$99,265
$165,352 vs $66,087/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
31% lower
182.0 vs 262.0 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 13 and Santa Clara wins 10. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($66,087 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,037 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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