Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
46% less violent crime than Wilmington
Homes cost $71k less ($247,900 vs $318,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,213)
Households earn $7,179 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 42°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $7,179/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$7,179
$66,087 vs $58,908/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
46% lower
262.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$71k less
$247,900 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 4% 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($66,087 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Wilmington, NC are about 452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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