Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 22 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($247,900 vs $415,300)
75% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,489)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $12,998/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $12,998 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
75% lower
262.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$167k less
$247,900 vs $415,300
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$12,998
$79,085 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 22 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 15 and Tacoma wins 7. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $415,300 median home), income ($66,087 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Tacoma, WA are about 2,011 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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