Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 19 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.0%)
19% less violent crime than Waterbury
Households earn $14,636 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($162,800 vs $247,900)
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $14,636/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$14,636
$66,087 vs $51,451/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
19% lower
262.0 vs 322.5 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$85k less
$162,800 vs $247,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 19 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 19 and Waterbury wins 4. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $162,800 median home), income ($66,087 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Waterbury, CT are about 653 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Waterbury, CT vs Hartford, CT
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Stockton, CA
Waterbury, CT vs Stamford, CT
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Henderson, NV
Waterbury, CT vs New Haven, CT
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Corpus Christi, TX
Waterbury, CT vs Norwalk, CT