Lexington-Fayette vs Owensboro
Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky versus Owensboro, Kentucky: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Lexington-Fayette edges out Owensboro on overall objective livability (52 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Lexington-Fayette | Owensboro |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $66k | $52k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $47k |
| Home Value | $248k | $152k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $888 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.92% | 0.96% |
| Income Tax | 4.50% | 6.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.93% | 11.09% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 4.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 34°F | 35°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 78°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8 in | 47.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5 in | 5.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 230 days | 200 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 68°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 40.1 | 78.5 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 62.6 | 56.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1603/100k | 1835/100k |
| Property Crime | 2927/100k | 3536/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 321,276 | 60,019 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 37.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.46 | 0.30 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | D+21 | R+28 |
| White (%) | 69.6% | 81.6% |
| Black (%) | 14.6% | 7.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.4% | 4.5% |
| Asian (%) | 4.1% | 2.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 4.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 13.8/20 | 8.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 70 mi | 81 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.6% | 87.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 15.66 | 21.49 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 Lexington-Fayette or Owensboro more affordable?
- Lexington-Fayette has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Lexington-Fayette's $44k and Owensboro's $47k. Median rent is $1k in Lexington-Fayette versus $888 in Owensboro.
- Is Lexington-Fayette or Owensboro safer?
- Lexington-Fayette has the lower violent crime rate. Lexington-Fayette reports 1603/100k and Owensboro reports 1835/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Lexington-Fayette or Owensboro?
- The median home value is $248k in Lexington-Fayette and $152k in Owensboro, so homes are more affordable in Owensboro.