Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Rent averages $757/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $105k less ($247,900 vs $352,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $21,669/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
58% less violent crime than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Households earn $21,669 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 42°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$105k less
$247,900 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$21,669
$87,756 vs $66,087/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
58% lower
109.1 vs 262.0 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($66,087 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Surprise, AZ are about 1,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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