Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 19 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
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
Households earn $18,410 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $49k less ($198,500 vs $247,900)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $18,410/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$18,410
$66,087 vs $47,677/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
71% lower
262.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Median Home Value
$49k less
$198,500 vs $247,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 19 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 19 and Springfield wins 4. 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 $198,500 median home), income ($66,087 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Springfield, MA are about 689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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