City comparison
Yes. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Safety is where Lexington and Pittsburgh split most clearly. Lexington scores 56 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,164 in Lexington and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Lexington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Lexington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Lexington has rougher pockets and Pittsburgh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lexington and Pittsburgh are 294 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $97 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $3,737 (5%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 56 points (55%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Lexington are 294 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $97 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $69,479 in Lexington, up $3,737 (6%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 102 in Lexington, down 56 points (35%).
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lexington and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Lexington rent is 8% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Lexington is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $97, or $1,164 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Lexington's median income is 6% higher than Pittsburgh
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Lexington (about $3,737 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 35% lower than Pittsburgh
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Lexington weather is 5% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Lexington
Winner52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Lexington averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lexington scores 5% 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 Pittsburgh 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
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 6% higher ($69,479), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 52°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Pittsburgh (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Pittsburgh
On these five categories Lexington takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Pittsburgh because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Pittsburgh only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Lexington: Lexington scores 59/100 versus 46/100 in Pittsburgh, with typical rent at $1,164 versus $1,261. I would vet the exact ZIP in Pittsburgh before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
With only $97 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,164 in Lexington and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
If safety drives your move, Lexington is the stronger match (59/100 safety versus 46/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Pittsburgh, treat $1,261/month rent and $65,742 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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