CountyScore

Lexington city

Virginia · VA

#7 in Virginia
76.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Lexington city, Virginia

Above-average livability with balanced strengths

Lexington's composite score of 72.7 stands 45% above the national median of 50.0, reflecting a well-rounded community. The city delivers solid performance across tax, cost, and income dimensions.

In the upper tier of Virginia communities

Lexington scores 72.7, exceeding Virginia's 70.3 state average by 2.4 points and ranking it among the Commonwealth's stronger performers. The city competes well with larger counties statewide.

Good balance of taxes, affordability, and income

Lexington offers a cost score of 76.5 with median rent of $985/month and home values at $275,300, while median income of $89,598 exceeds state medians. The tax score of 78.0 and effective rate of 0.864% provide reasonable tax relief.

Higher effective tax rate limits advantages

At 0.864%, Lexington's effective tax rate is the highest among these peers, reducing financial advantages despite reasonable scores. Safety, health, school, and environmental dimensions remain unmeasured.

Ideal for professionals seeking balanced living

Lexington appeals to professionals and established families valuing a mix of affordable housing, reasonable incomes, and vibrant community character. The city works well for those seeking urban amenities balanced with financial responsibility.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax78Cost76.5SafetyComing SoonHealth80.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome41.9Risk96.3WaterComing Soon
🏛78
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠76.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼41.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤80.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡96.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Lexington city with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Kittson County
Minnesota
76.6
Median income: $69,615
Catron County
New Mexico
76.6
Median income: $46,439
Piute County
Utah
76.6
Median income: $44,650
Wayne County
Utah
76.6
Median income: $70,074
Gilmer County
West Virginia
76.6
Median income: $50,991

Deep Dives

Lexington city across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Lexington city

via TaxByCounty

Lexington ranks among America's highest rates

Lexington's effective tax rate of 0.864% is the second-highest in Virginia and nearly triple the national median property tax burden of $2,690. Residents pay $2,378 annually on the median home—significantly above typical American households.

Virginia's second-highest tax burden

Lexington city has the second-highest effective tax rate in Virginia at 0.864%, topped only by Loudoun County at 0.882%. With median taxes of $2,378, Lexington far exceeds Virginia's $1,960 state median.

Premium pricing in the region

Lexington's 0.864% rate dramatically exceeds neighboring King William (0.627%), Louisa (0.646%), and all surrounding counties. Only Loudoun County approaches this tax burden, reflecting Lexington's status as a regional hub with higher service costs.

What $275,300 home costs yearly

On Lexington's median home value of $275,300, homeowners pay approximately $2,378 per year in property taxes—about $198 monthly. This is among the highest rates for a home of this value statewide.

Challenge high assessments aggressively

Lexington's high effective rate makes it especially important for residents to scrutinize their property assessments for errors. A successful appeal could yield hundreds in annual savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lexington city

via CostByCounty

Lexington offers surprising affordability premium

Lexington city's 13.2% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among all these counties and well below the national average, while household income of $89,598 runs 20% above the U.S. median. This college town delivers exceptional housing affordability paired with strong earning power.

Virginia's most affordable city

Lexington's 13.2% rent-to-income ratio significantly outperforms Virginia's 18.6% state average, ranking it among the state's most affordable places. This is unusual for a Virginia city, making Lexington a standout value.

Best ratio among all peer counties

Lexington's 13.2% rent-to-income ratio beats every rural neighbor in this comparison, including even lower-income Lee County. At $985 rent and $89,598 household income, Lexington delivers urban amenities with rural-county affordability.

Renters and owners both find value

Renters pay $985 monthly and homeowners pay $926 on median homes valued at $275,300, creating nearly identical affordability for both groups. With household income at $89,598, housing consumes just 13.2% of income—well below the comfortable threshold.

Lexington for urban affordability seekers

If you earn $85,000–$95,000 and want city amenities with exceptional affordability, Lexington delivers—just $985 rent and $275,300 median home values with the lowest housing burden in this entire comparison. Consider Lexington against larger Virginia cities for the best value in urban living.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lexington city

via IncomeByCounty

Lexington earners exceed nation by 20%

Lexington city's median household income of $89,598 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by $14,843, placing the community in America's upper-income tier. This 20% advantage reflects Lexington's status as a prosperous small city with strong institutional and educational employment.

Strong earner among Virginia's cities

Lexington's median household income of $89,598 exceeds Virginia's state average of $74,957 by nearly $15,000. The city ranks among Virginia's most prosperous communities, driven by Washington and Lee University and VMI military college employment.

Competitive with wealthier eastern counties

Lexington's $89,598 median household income trails only King George County ($110,517) among the eastern Virginia region analyzed, exceeding King William ($85,212), King and Queen ($72,851), and Lancaster ($67,169). The city represents a robust economic center for its region.

Excellent housing affordability for earners

At 13.2%, Lexington's rent-to-income ratio is the lowest of any county analyzed, indicating exceptional housing affordability. With median home values at $275,300 and strong incomes, Lexington households enjoy comfortable housing costs that leave substantial room for savings and investment.

Leverage affordability for aggressive investing

Lexington residents benefit from the nation's best rent-to-income ratio at 13.2%, freeing up substantial income for wealth building. With extra cashflow from affordable housing, households should maximize retirement contributions and establish diverse investment portfolios targeting 15-20% of gross income.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lexington city

via HealthByCounty

Exceptional longevity above nation

Lexington's 78.7-year life expectancy surpasses the U.S. average of 78.2 years, with just 14.5% of residents reporting poor or fair health. The city demonstrates among the strongest health outcomes in the region.

Virginia's healthiest community

Lexington's 78.7-year life expectancy ranks 3.6 years above Virginia's 75.1-year state average, making it one of Virginia's healthiest places to live. The city's health profile stands distinctly above peer communities statewide.

Dramatically healthier outcomes

Lexington's 14.5% poor/fair health rate significantly outperforms all neighboring counties, including King George (15.8%) and King William (17.6%). The city's health trajectory reflects exceptional community health management.

Exceptional mental health infrastructure

Lexington provides 850 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—far exceeding any other community in the region, likely reflecting the presence of Washington & Lee University and institutional resources. An uninsured rate of just 4.0%—the lowest in the dataset—ensures nearly all residents access care.

Maintain your excellent coverage

With only 4% uninsured, Lexington's residents enjoy strong health security—well above state and regional averages. Review your coverage annually at Healthcare.gov to ensure your plan continues to meet your needs in this health-conscious community.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lexington city

via RiskByCounty

Lexington: Exceptionally Safe City

Lexington City's composite risk score of 3.72 and Very Low rating represent some of the lowest disaster risk in the nation. Your city faces minimal cumulative natural hazard threats compared to virtually all U.S. communities.

Virginia's Safest Community

At 3.72, Lexington City sits far below Virginia's state average of 33.27, making it the commonwealth's lowest-risk jurisdiction. This exceptional score reflects minimal exposure across nearly all natural hazard categories.

Safer Than All Surrounding Counties

Lexington's 3.72 score is dramatically lower than neighboring Rockbridge County and all adjacent Virginia counties in this analysis. Your city ranks as the safest location in its region.

Earthquake Risk Tops Minimal Threats

Lexington City's only notable hazard exposure is earthquake risk at 46.18, likely driven by regional seismic activity patterns. Flooding (13.10), hurricanes (58.03), and tornadoes (9.54) all remain minimal concerns; wildfire risk is nearly negligible at 2.32.

Basic Coverage Sufficient Here

Your city's exceptional safety profile means standard homeowners insurance typically provides adequate protection for most residents. Consider earthquake coverage if you own an older home, but your overall natural disaster risk remains among the nation's lowest.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.