City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Lexington split most clearly. Lexington scores 159 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,164 in Lexington.
Lexington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 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
Philadelphia and Lexington are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $233 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $69,479 in Lexington, up $7,526 (12%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 102 in Lexington, down 159 points (61%).
The move
Lexington and Philadelphia are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $233 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $7,526 (11%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 261 in Philadelphia, up 159 points (156%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Lexington rent is 17% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Lexington is 17% 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 $2,796, 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 Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Lexington's median income is 12% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Lexington (about $7,526 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 61% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
8% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 8% more comfortable than Lexington
Philadelphia
Winner54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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. Philadelphia scores 8% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat Lexington on this page's weather index by 8%. Lexington may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% 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 61% lower than Philadelphia (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Lexington leads on safety (59/100 vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,164 in Lexington and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Lexington vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lexington; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Lexington, plus other cities in PA and KY.
