Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
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 $134k less ($247,900 vs $382,100)
44% less violent crime than Tempe
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,472)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $5,935/yr
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 42°F
Households earn $5,935 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
44% lower
262.0 vs 470.3 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$134k less
$247,900 vs $382,100
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Median Income
$5,935
$72,022 vs $66,087/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14 and Tempe wins 9. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($66,087 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Tempe, AZ are about 1,568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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