40503 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
40502
40503
Opportunity
61 · Top 37%
vs60 · Top 38%
Growth
65 · Top 25%
vs65 · Top 25%
Climate
74 · Top 32%
vs74 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 30%
vs74 · Top 30%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 32%
vs89 · Top 33%
Schools
75 · Top 20%
vs85 · Top 7%
Access
57 · Bottom 6%
vs59 · Bottom 6%
Economic stability
60 · Top 50%
vs64 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | 40502 | 40503 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,122 | 27,451 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,948 | $76,482 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,728 | $48,091 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,655/sq mi | 3,107/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $517,900 | $296,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,089 | $1,168 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.7% | 61.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.0% | 56.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 12.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,377 | 1,377 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 54.5% | 54.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.8" | 49.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 69 mi | 66 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 20.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.1 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.66 | 15.79 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 39.3% | 48.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 50.1% | 59.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 47.2% | 32.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 40502 — Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY · 40503 — Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY · How this is calculated: methodology