City comparison
Yes. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,164 in Lexington.
Safety is where Lexington and St Louis split most clearly. Lexington scores 250 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 $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Lexington 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 crime gap is citywide. Lexington has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lexington and St Louis are 313 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $997 a month in St Louis, down $167 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $56,160 in St Louis, down $13,319 (19%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 352 in St Louis, up 250 points (245%).
The move
St Louis and Lexington are 313 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,164 a month in Lexington, up $167 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $69,479 in Lexington, up $13,319 (24%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 102 in Lexington, down 250 points (71%).
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lexington and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
St Louis rent is 14% cheaper than Lexington
Lexington
$1,164/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,164 in Lexington, so St Louis is 14% 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 $2,004, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Lexington.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Lexington's median income is 24% higher than St Louis
Lexington
Winner$69,479
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Lexington (about $13,319 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, Lexington is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 71% lower than St Louis
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 16% more comfortable than Lexington
Lexington
54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Lexington averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis scores 16% 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 and professional growth
Lexington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($69,479). Start with Lexington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than St Louis (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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Louis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Lexington on this page's weather index by 16%. Lexington may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Lexington leads on safety (59/100 vs 22/100 in St Louis). Typical rent is $1,164 in Lexington and $997 in St Louis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Lexington's $1,164, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,164 in Lexington.
Lexington is ahead on safety (59/100 vs 22/100); St Louis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $997/month rent plus $56,160 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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