Lexington-Fayette, KY, known as 'The Horse Capital of the World,' offers a unique blend of equestrian heritage and urban amenities. Located in central Kentucky, Lexington-Fayette is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Louisville and Cincinnati enhance its status as a central point in the region. Lexington-Fayette's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Lexington-Fayette is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Kentucky Horse Park, the historic Mary Todd Lincoln House, and the scenic Raven Run Nature Sanctuary. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate to the bustling Distillery District, known for its shopping and dining. Lexington-Fayette's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Lexington Bluegrass Music Festival and the Festival of the Horse highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Lexington-Fayette's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Kentucky contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Lexington-Fayette is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Lexington Opera House and the Lexington Art League are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Lexington-Fayette provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Lexington-Fayette’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Lexington Legends (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Lexington-Fayette include education, healthcare, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as the University of Kentucky and Lexmark International driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike lanes, making commuting convenient and accessible for residents.
Amenities
Within the vicinity, you'll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Nothing Found
This area did not exhibit any cons, as none of the categories were rated low enough.
Located in the state of Kentucky, Lexington-Fayette is a large city with a population of 322,200 residents. If we look at the most recent Census, Lexington-Fayette is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Lexington-Fayette is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 49% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Lexington-Fayette will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 21 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Are you trying to decide if living in Lexington-Fayette is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in Kentucky, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Lexington-Fayette and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, cost of living, commute, employment and other important metrics.
Lexington-Fayette has a livability score of 86/100 and is ranked #20 in Kentucky and #224 in the USA. This is a phenomenal score, as Lexington-Fayette ranks well in multiple categories! Lexington-Fayette is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. For each of the livability categories, we see that Lexington-Fayette ranks very well for cost of living (A+), education (B+) and housing (A).
The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Lexington-Fayette, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Lexington-Fayette undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Lexington-Fayette apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Lexington-Fayette is real estate affordability. The median home price for Lexington-Fayette homes is $200,900, which is 59.3% higher than the Kentucky average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lexington-Fayette, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.4, which is 21.4% higher than the Kentucky average.
| Statistic | Lexington-Fayette | Kentucky | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 23min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 77.9% | 82.2% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.2% | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.8% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.7% | 2.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.7% | 3.3% | 4.6% |
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