City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and Lexington split most clearly. Lexington scores 65 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,164 in Lexington.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lexington costs less and Chicago 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
Chicago and Lexington are 315 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $276 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $69,479 in Lexington, down $8,423 (11%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 102 in Lexington, down 65 points (39%).
The move
Lexington and Chicago are 315 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $276 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $77,902 in Chicago, up $8,423 (12%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 167 in Chicago, up 65 points (64%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Lexington rent is 19% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Lexington is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,312, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lexington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chicago.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Chicago's median income is 12% higher than Lexington
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Lexington
$69,479
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Chicago (about $8,423 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, Chicago 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
39% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 39% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 3% more comfortable than Lexington
Chicago
Winner53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lexington averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chicago scores 3% 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 12% higher ($77,902), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 53°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 19% 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 39% lower than Chicago (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
Chicago carries the heavier crime signal on this page (44/100 safety vs 59/100 in Lexington). That 15-point spread matters more than the $276 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $69,479), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $69,479 in Lexington.
Lexington clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Chicago deserves a serious look only when you already know the Chicago block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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