Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Santa Rosa, 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
Santa Rosa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
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 $414k less ($247,900 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $959/mo less ($1,065 vs $2,024)
24% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $26,517/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,517 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
24% lower
262.0 vs 342.6 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$414k less
$247,900 vs $661,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$26,517
$92,604 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 17% 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 Santa Rosa 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $661,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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