City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Lexington. Austin averages 68°F while Lexington averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,729 versus $1,164.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lexington costs less and Austin pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lexington at $1,164 average has pockets that run $964 and others at $1,564: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Lexington are 926 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $565 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $69,479 in Lexington, down $24,179 (26%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 102 in Lexington, down 60 points (37%).
The move
Lexington and Austin are 926 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $565 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $93,658 in Austin, up $24,179 (35%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 162 in Austin, up 60 points (59%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Lexington rent is 33% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,729 in Austin, so Lexington is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $565/month back in your pocket ($6,780/year). Over five years that's $33,900 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Lexington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Austin's median income is 35% higher than Lexington
Austin
Winner$93,658
Lexington
$69,479
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Austin (about $24,179 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Lexington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
37% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 37% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Lexington. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Lexington is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Austin weather is 56% more comfortable than Lexington
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lexington averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 56% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Lexington if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 35% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Austin (102 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Lexington undercuts Austin by $565/month ($1,164 vs $1,729). I would not pick Austin on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Lexington vs 45/100 in Austin), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 52°F in Lexington.
Lexington is the default on housing cost at $1,164/month versus $1,729 in Austin; Austin stays in play when $93,658 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $565 lease gap.
Common questions
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