Fairlawn, VA vs Lexington, VA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Lexington is 17.8% cheaper than Fairlawn. With a cost index of 84 vs 99, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Lexington to Fairlawn should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairlawn is $1,533/month compared to $985/month in Lexington — a 56% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lexington has cheaper rent, Fairlawn actually has lower median home values ($257,000 vs $275,300).

Median household income in Fairlawn is $67,549 compared to $89,598 in Lexington (-24.6%). Lexington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairlawn spend roughly 27.2% of their income on rent, more than the 13.2% in Lexington.