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Living in
Lexington.
About
Life in Lexington
Living in Lexington means being part of a tight-knit community of roughly 20,000 people that's quietly rebuilding itself. The city has genuine character—it's legitimately one of America's best barbecue destinations, with over twenty dedicated restaurants and a festival that draws tens of thousands, but that's not why you'd move here; it's just what makes weekend eating genuinely memorable. You're looking at a median home value around $179,900 and median rent of $893 a month, which keeps housing costs reasonable compared to nearby Winston-Salem and Greensboro, though the median household income of $43,128 means finances matter here.
Lexington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.8%
Foreign-Born
13.0%
Broadband Internet
83.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lexington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lexington, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.9%), and 21.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.0%
of residents
65 and Older
15.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.6%
of households
Married Couples
32.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 27% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Lexington
In Lexington, rent runs 27% below the NC average, and home values are 38% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,400
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $271,676 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Lexington
Unemployment in Davidson County, which includes Lexington, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Lexington: Davidson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Davidson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lexington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.5 min avg
How Lexington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lexington, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
Small hub1.0M passengers boarded in 2025
- 57 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lexington runs 41% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
464.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,844.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lexington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Davidson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Davidson County, which includes Lexington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $79,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $86,500 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $775,000 |
| 2021 | 11 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Flash Flood | $1.7M |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $44,500 |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Davidson County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Davidson County, which includes Lexington, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
157
per year
Moderate Days
186
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Davidson County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lexington has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.5"
Annual Snowfall
3.3"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
83
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 28°F | 3.75" |
| Feb | 56°F | 31°F | 3.18" |
| Mar | 64°F | 37°F | 3.86" |
| Apr | 73°F | 45°F | 3.96" |
| May | 80°F | 55°F | 3.33" |
| Jun | 86°F | 63°F | 4.18" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.68" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 4.44" |
| Sep | 82°F | 60°F | 4.27" |
| Oct | 73°F | 47°F | 3.05" |
| Nov | 62°F | 36°F | 3.37" |
| Dec | 54°F | 31°F | 3.40" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lexington
Lexington has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Lexington Memorial Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.9 mi away · Thomasville
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · Salisbury
W.g. (bill) Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center (salsbury)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 14.4 mi away · Salisbury
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lexington
Lexington's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lexington (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,235 students · in-state tuition $35,500 · 57% graduate · median earnings $52,260 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 924 students · in-state tuition $18,296 · 28% graduate · median earnings $38,502 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lexington
Lexington has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
33 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
77 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
78 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
96 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lexington
Lexington Public Library
602 S Main St, Lexington
Cities Near Lexington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lexington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lexington FAQ
Is Lexington, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Lexington's median rent is $893/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $43,128/year. Median home value is $179,900.
Is Lexington, North Carolina safe?⌄
Lexington's violent crime rate was 465 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2845 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lexington, North Carolina?⌄
Davidson County, which includes Lexington, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lexington, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Lexington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $893/month and median household income is $43,128/year. The median home value is $179,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lexington, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Lexington is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from