Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Tampa
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
41% less violent crime than Tampa
Homes cost $85k less ($247,900 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,422)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
41% lower
262.0 vs 444.6 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$85k less
$247,900 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$715
$66,802 vs $66,087/yr
Tampa
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 13 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 13 and Tampa wins 10. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $333,200 median home), income ($66,087 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Tampa, FL are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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