Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 17 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
66% less violent crime than Syracuse
Households earn $22,503 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 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
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($117,900 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $133/mo less ($932 vs $1,065)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $22,503/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$22,503
$66,087 vs $43,584/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
66% lower
262.0 vs 765.3 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$130k less
$117,900 vs $247,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 17 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 17 and Syracuse wins 6. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $117,900 median home), income ($66,087 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Syracuse, NY are about 556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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