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METRO AREA

Lexington Metro

Lexington-Fayette, KY · 6 counties · 535,174 residents (2025 est.) · 1,469.966 sq mi
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The short version

Lexington has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,865. Population has grown 28% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $281,872. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
522,560
+28%since 2000
from 408,326 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
355 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 278 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.8
+9%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:535,174 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
331K383K435K488K540K1990201020202024Lexington
2024523K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,865
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,763 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,479
+93%since 2000
from $22,009 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.3%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.481
+4%since 2010
from 0.465 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$281,872
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,376 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,139
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $516 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 60.1% in 2000
40.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+50%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
61
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lexington on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.8%(342,002)
Black10.3%(41,996)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(11,195)
Asian1.7%(6,890)
Other0%
Diversity Score33.1%(135,025)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic73.8%(385,501)
Black10.5%(54,659)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(42,264)
Asian3.1%(16,017)
Other4.6%(24,119)
Diversity Score54.4%(284,287)
Segregation Score32.9%(171,842)
Diversity Score
54
+65%since 2000
from 33 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
33
−5%since 2020
from 35 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.2%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 29.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.7%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.9%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.9 min
+65%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.4%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.0%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 68.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.5%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.5%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.9%
+11.9 ptssince 2017
from 80.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 90.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

LexingtonCENTRAL329,751
What's inside

6 component counties

Fayette CountyCENTRAL329,751Scott County62,262Jessamine County57,147Clark County37,888Woodford County27,883Bourbon County20,243
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Lexington

Killeen
Pop 511,497
Visalia
Pop 485,146
Chattanooga
Pop 594,530
Lansing
Pop 479,722
Places similar to Lexington
Head to head

Compare Lexington side by side

LEXINGTON VS
Killeen
Income$69,874−3%
Home value$233,598−17%
Population511,497−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEXINGTON VS
Visalia
Income$71,300−1%
Home value$330,100+17%
Population485,146−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEXINGTON VS
Chattanooga
Income$72,439+1%
Home value$278,889−1%
Population594,530+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEXINGTON VS
Lansing
Income$72,596+1%
Home value$213,204−24%
Population479,722−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lexington-Fayette, KY?

Lexington-Fayette, KY has about 522,560 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lexington-Fayette, KY?

The typical household in Lexington-Fayette, KY earns about $71,865 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lexington-Fayette, KY expensive?

In Lexington-Fayette, KY, the median home is worth about $281,872, and the typical rent is about $1,139 a month.

How educated are people in Lexington-Fayette, KY?

About 42.2% of adults age 25 and over in Lexington-Fayette, KY hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lexington-Fayette, KY?

About 13.8% of people in Lexington-Fayette, KY live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lexington-Fayette, KY grown since 1990?

Yes, Lexington-Fayette, KY has grown since 1990. The population has added about 174,132 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →