Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
71% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 36°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($147,700 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $152/mo less ($913 vs $1,065)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $3,668/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$3,668
$66,087 vs $62,419/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
71% lower
262.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$100k less
$147,700 vs $247,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Springfield, IL are about 304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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