Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 22 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
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 $1407k less ($247,900 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1162/mo less ($1,065 vs $2,227)
66% less violent crime than Santa Monica
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $40,710/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,710 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
66% lower
262.0 vs 778.0 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$1407k less
$247,900 vs $1,654,800
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$40,710
$106,797 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 22 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 13 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($66,087 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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