Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
38% less violent crime than Waco
Households earn $18,666 more per year on average
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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($174,100 vs $247,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $18,666/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$18,666
$66,087 vs $47,421/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
38% lower
262.0 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$74k less
$174,100 vs $247,900
Waco
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 12 and Waco wins 11. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($66,087 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Waco, TX are about 849 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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