Lexington-Fayette urban county vs Cincinnati: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Cincinnati, OH, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricLexington-Fayette urban county, KYCincinnati, OH
Population321,276308,870
Median household income$66,087$49,191
Median home value$247,900$192,000
Median rent (/mo)$1,065$893

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Cincinnati, OH comes down to what you value most. Cincinnati has the lower median home value, and Cincinnati has the lower median rent.

Lexington-Fayette urban county has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington-Fayette urban county or Cincinnati?
By median home value, Cincinnati is the cheaper of the two ($192,000 vs $247,900). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Lexington-Fayette urban county or Cincinnati?
Median household income is $66,087 in Lexington-Fayette urban county versus $49,191 in Cincinnati, per the US Census Bureau.

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