Signals
Paris
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 4%
vs58 · Top 47%
Climate
74 · Top 30%
vs74 · Top 30%
Physical resilience
61 · Top 48%
vs74 · Top 31%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 17%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
16 · Bottom 6%
vs62 · Top 36%
Access
63 · Bottom 8%
vs56 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 17%
vs58 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Paris | Lexington-Fayette urban county | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,160 | 323,725 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $55,839 | $69,479 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,645 | $43,790 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,278/sq mi | 1,140/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $186,300 | $293,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $832 | $1,164 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.1% | 53.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.3% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 48.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 14.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| 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 | 62 mi | 70 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.8 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 77 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.69 | 14.11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 22.8% | 33.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 33.4% | 45.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 65.5% | 50.3% | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Paris
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave.
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.
Paris
54
Your Score
—
Area Score
Lexington-Fayette urban county
66
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Paris, KY · Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY · How this is calculated: methodology