Home › KY › Lexington, KY Cost of living in Lexington, KY Livability score 72 · cost-of-living index 92.5 (US = 100)
How Lexington compares Where Lexington falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $328k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $328k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $173 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $173 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.83% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.83% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 260 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 260 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.0 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.0 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 88° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 88° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 26° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 26° Map of Lexington Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 92.5 metro-area #66 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.4 metro-area #49 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.26 metro-area #64 of 200 Median household income $68,089 metro-area #118 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,896 metro-area #129 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 36.6 years metro-area #47 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 41.1% metro-area #30 of 200 Foreign-born residents 8.2% metro-area #101 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 59.6% metro-area #177 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.70% metro-area #68 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.0% metro-area #118 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $327,671 metro-area #90 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.8× metro-area #102 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.7% metro-area #65 of 200 Price per square foot $173 metro-area #83 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,900 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,528 metro-area #87 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,712 Median days on market 8 metro-area #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.6% state #68 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% state #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.00% Capital gains tax 4.00% state #76 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.83% metro-area #92 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,973 metro-area #63 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.1 years metro-area #118 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,300 state #17 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.0% metro-area #62 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 99 metro-area #19 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,000 state #25 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $120 state #101 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.44% of value (~$403/yr) state #159 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 17 Avg commute to work 22 min metro-area #35 of 200 Commute by driving alone 76.2% metro-area #116 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 25.9% metro-area #48 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 15.0¢/kWh state #38 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $135 state #38 of 200 Gasoline $3.10/gal state #50 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $70 state #98 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $81 state #48 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,200 state #129 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,200 state #152 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 74.1 — Relatively Low metro-area #12 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $250 state #141 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 43 metro-area #70 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,300 metro-area #107 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,400 metro-area #108 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 19 metro-area #81 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 88°F metro-area #98 of 200 Avg winter low 26°F metro-area #119 of 200 Annual precipitation 48.3" metro-area #148 of 200 Annual snowfall 13.4" metro-area #115 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 56% metro-area #132 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 260 state #15 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,700 state #47 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 24 metro-area #150 of 200 Parks 24 Hiking areas 14 Golf courses 11 Shooting ranges 6 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Lexington Major public and private employers in the Lexington, KY area.
Employer Sector Jobs University of Kentucky Education Careers → Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Manufacturing Careers → Lockheed Martin Aerospace/Defense Careers → Lexington Clinic Healthcare Search → Baptist Health Healthcare Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Lexington Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Pharmacists $134,140 Financial Managers $127,000 Human Resources Managers $114,450 Marketing Managers $105,630 Lawyers $103,330 Software Developers $103,280 Physician Assistants $101,100 Construction Managers $99,890 Mechanical Engineers $99,520 Civil Engineers $93,070 Physical Therapists $82,830 Data Scientists $82,720 Registered Nurses $80,490 General & Operations Managers $79,880 Dental Hygienists $75,600 Accountants & Auditors $66,620 Web Developers $64,190 Elementary School Teachers $62,430 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $61,100 Carpenters $53,940 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $53,590 Electricians $53,480 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $51,100 Graphic Designers $50,910 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,870 Medical Assistants $38,190 Real Estate Sales Agents $34,420
Cities in the Lexington area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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