I have a unique perspective on Lexington as I was born and raised in southern California. I've lived here for 7 years and can say that I truly love this city. There are plenty of contrasts between my hometown in California and central Kentucky; home prices, affordability, and traffic are the most obvious. While California has it's own glamour, there are plenty of reasons why I feel that Lexington is a gem all of it's own. Today I'll share a few reasons why Lexington is such a unique place - backed by studies & surveys that agree.

• Natural Beauty: Over the course of my career I've met many people who have flown into Lexington for business, typically from the east or west coasts. I've not met one person who didn't enjoy the view as they land at Bluegrass Airport; sweeping views of lush, green horse farms on every side. This is particularly vivid for anyone who lives in Southern California, where the hills are consistently brown and devoid of green vegetation. Factor in our numerous parks, diverse trees & vegetation, and a handsome downtown consistently changing for the better, and you have a city full of beauty. Lexington also ranked #14 for "Most Scenic Cities in North America," competing with Alaska, California and British Columbia with ease.


• Home Affordability: I've mentioned in another post how rapidly Lexington's home prices have increased over the last few years, but in relation to larger cities our homes are incredibly affordable. Given that I come from an area where a fixer-upper condo costs $300,000, in our city you can buy an actual house with a nice backyard. Lexington was ranked #4 "Best Cities for First Time Homebuyers" and #7 for "Best Large Real Estate Market," both rankings by WalletHub. Lexington was also ranked "10 Safest Metro Cities in America" in 2019, factoring into the desirability to live in our city.


• Economy: Beyond the beauty of our city is the economic powerhouse which keeps thousands employed. Several Fortune 500 companies have chosen our city to be their headquarters, along with major employers like the University of Kentucky. Beyond the large employers, Lexington ranks high for employment growth in other sectors: #2 (Kentucky) for Clean Energy Job Growth,
  #6 Cities With The Best Work Life Balance, #6 Cities With The Lowest Startup Costs, and #15 Best Cities for Young Professionals. Our city continues to grow with the backbone of a strong economy.


• Education: Lexington ranked #13 in 2010 for "Percentage of Population Over Age 25 With at Least a Bachelor's Degree, " which comes as no surprise with the number of universities we have in our city. For younger students, Lexington scored #2 in the same year for "Best Cities for Education." Add in a #7 Best City for Families and it's clear this is a great city for learning.

This article could go on for much longer with the different rankings Lexington has. I'm proud to call Lexington my home, and I hope anyone who lives here is too.