Chesapeake receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Chesapeake
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 46%
vs60 · Top 43%
Growth
64 · Top 25%
vs65 · Top 25%
Climate
71 · Top 48%
vs74 · Top 33%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 28%
vs74 · Top 31%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 36%
vs81 · Top 41%
Access
80 · Bottom 17%
vs56 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
68 · Top 33%
vs58 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Chesapeake | Lexington-Fayette urban county | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 252,583 | 323,725 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $95,373 | $69,479 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,985 | $43,790 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 746/sq mi | 1,140/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $378,400 | $293,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,586 | $1,164 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.4% | 53.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 48.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 14.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,476 | 1,377 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 116.4% | 54.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.6" | 49.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 70 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Chesapeake
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Lexington-Fayette urban county
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chesapeake
71
Your Score
70
Area Score
Lexington-Fayette urban county
67
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chesapeake, VA · Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY · How this is calculated: methodology