40503 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
40503
40502
Opportunity
60 · Top 38%
vs61 · Top 37%
Growth
65 · Top 25%
vs65 · Top 25%
Climate
74 · Top 32%
vs74 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 30%
vs74 · Top 30%
Housing affordability
89 · Top 33%
vs68 · Bottom 32%
Schools
85 · Top 7%
vs75 · Top 20%
Access
59 · Bottom 6%
vs57 · Bottom 6%
Economic stability
64 · Top 42%
vs60 · Top 50%
Measured values
| Metric | 40503 | 40502 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,451 | 26,122 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,482 | $76,948 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,091 | $67,728 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,107/sq mi | 3,655/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $296,800 | $517,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,168 | $1,089 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.7% | 59.7% | 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 | 56.4% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 9.7% | 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 | 66 mi | 69 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 20.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.2 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.79 | 13.66 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 48.0% | 39.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 59.8% | 50.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 32.2% | 47.2% | 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: 40503 — Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY · 40502 — Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY · How this is calculated: methodology