Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
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 $632k less ($247,900 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $880/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,945)
66% less violent crime than Seattle
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $49,981/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $49,981 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
66% lower
262.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$632k less
$247,900 vs $879,900
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$49,981
$116,068 vs $66,087/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Seattle's 113.0 (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 Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $879,900 median home), income ($66,087 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Seattle, WA are about 2,008 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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