Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Tucson, 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Tucson
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
56% less violent crime than Tucson
Households earn $14,038 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Homes cost $30k less ($218,200 vs $247,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $14,038/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$14,038
$66,087 vs $52,049/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
56% lower
262.0 vs 588.8 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Median Home Value
$30k less
$218,200 vs $247,900
Tucson
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 1% 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 Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $218,200 median home), income ($66,087 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Tucson, AZ are about 1,542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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