Best Life Index › States › Kentucky › Cities › Lexington-Fayette urban county

Kentucky city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Lexington-Fayette urban county?

What it costs to live in Lexington-Fayette urban county, and how it compares with other Kentucky cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

20th best value in Kentucky

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Kentucky cities.

Overall livability

55

12th overall in Kentucky

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Lexington-Fayette urban county is home to about 321,354 people. A typical home runs $216,800 and a household earns around $61,500, a price-to-income ratio of 3.5. Among Kentucky's largest cities, it ranks 20th for value and 12th overall.

Lexington-Fayette urban county at a glance

Median home price

$216,800

26th in KY of 30

Median rent

$967/mo

Median household income

$61,500

Home price to income

3.5x

Unemployment

4.9%

14th in KY of 30

School rating

5/10

11th in KY of 30

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in KY of 30

Walk score

39/100

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‹ See all top Kentucky cities ranked  ยท  Kentucky state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Kentucky only. Updated 2026.