Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
79% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $20,120 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($168,900 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($945 vs $1,065)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $20,120/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$20,120
$66,087 vs $45,967/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
79% lower
262.0 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$79k less
$168,900 vs $247,900
Shreveport
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 6% 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 Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $168,900 median home), income ($66,087 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Shreveport, LA are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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