Fayette County vs Jefferson County
Fayette County, Kentucky versus Jefferson County, Kentucky: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Fayette County edges out Jefferson County on overall objective livability (52 vs 48 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Fayette County | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $66k | $66k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $48k |
| Home Value | $248k | $222k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.92% | 0.86% |
| Income Tax | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.93% | 9.35% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 34°F | 35°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.9 in | 50.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5 in | 12.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 230 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 92.0 | 98.3 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 55 AQI |
| School Quality | 62.6 | 73.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1603/100k | 1746/100k |
| Property Crime | 2927/100k | 2968/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 779,232 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 38.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.46 | 0.49 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+21 | D+21 |
| White (%) | 69.6% | 65.1% |
| Black (%) | 14.6% | 21.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.4% | 6.3% |
| Asian (%) | 4.1% | 3.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 11.1/20 | 11.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 69 mi | 3 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.6% | 89.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 15.66 | 5.72 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fayette County or Jefferson County more affordable?
- Fayette County has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Fayette County's $44k and Jefferson County's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Fayette County versus $1k in Jefferson County.
- Is Fayette County or Jefferson County safer?
- Fayette County has the lower violent crime rate. Fayette County reports 1603/100k and Jefferson County reports 1746/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Fayette County or Jefferson County?
- The median home value is $248k in Fayette County and $222k in Jefferson County, so homes are more affordable in Jefferson County.