Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 12 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
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 $457k less ($247,900 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,817)
72% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $35,635/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $35,635 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
72% lower
262.0 vs 925.9 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$457k less
$247,900 vs $705,000
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$35,635
$101,722 vs $66,087/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 16% 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 Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($66,087 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Washington, DC are about 407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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