Population 325,379 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lexington
Household size in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Lexington are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lexington is 36.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Lexington than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.6 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lexington
Renters in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.0% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.5% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.1% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Lexington than nationally: 46.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. About a third of owners (33.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.1 points, mirroring the country. Only ten of the 146 Kentucky cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Lexington as nationally: 8.7%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Kentucky as a whole (10.6%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Lexington are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $824 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $896 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,024 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,309 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$486 | +$367 | +$606 |
Rent in Lexington runs $1,309 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Kentucky overall ($1,024). Rent has climbed $486 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lexington
Bachelor's degrees in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.9% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.7% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.5% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Lexington is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.7 points, mirroring the country. Only ten of the 146 Kentucky cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.6% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Lexington have finished high school (92.3%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lexington is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lexington compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 2.36 | 36.6 | 10.2% | 46.1% | 8.7% | 1982 | $1,309 | 47.5% | 92.3% | 5.6% |
| Union Mills | 2.43 | 44.4 | 5.0% | 15.3% | 2.2% | 1984 | $1,355 | 38.9% | 94.1% | 1.9% |
| Keene | 2.82 | 47.6 | 1.1% | 8.4% | 4.9% | 1993 | $1,776 | 64.0% | 97.8% | 1.9% |
| Troy | 2.65 | 53.7 | 4.0% | 13.4% | 4.0% | 1989 | $1,713 | 50.6% | 94.2% | 1.3% |
| Versailles | 2.52 | 42.4 | 11.6% | 28.4% | 8.2% | 1986 | $1,161 | 40.0% | 90.2% | 2.2% |
| Hutchison | 2.33 | 55.9 | 1.0% | 19.0% | 7.5% | 1988 | $963 | 24.7% | 97.7% | 1.6% |
| Clintonville | 3.14 | 32.6 | 22.6% | 31.3% | 9.5% | 1985 | $1,054 | 29.1% | 78.6% | 6.0% |
| Midway | 2.33 | 39.5 | 7.0% | 27.1% | 9.8% | 1974 | $995 | 48.4% | 95.4% | 7.5% |
| Milner | 2.35 | 41.2 | 23.1% | 59.0% | 12.5% | 1971 | $1,127 | 38.1% | 90.4% | 1.3% |
| Forest Grove | 2.77 | 40.2 | 7.7% | 29.5% | 7.0% | 1990 | $1,130 | 31.1% | 96.4% | 4.8% |
| Mortonsville | 2.70 | 45.6 | 9.3% | 10.0% | 9.1% | 1985 | $1,081 | 46.3% | 94.0% | 2.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Arlington, TX · Anaheim, CA · Akron, OH · Alpharetta, GA · Baytown, TX · Beaumont, TX · Apopka, FL · Apex, NC · Arlington, VA · Atascocita, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lexington. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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