Lexington, KYBest Places to Live in the US in 2022

University of Kentucky, Amazon, Baptist Health, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), Conduent and Lexmark International are among the major employers in Lexington. Education, health care, manufacturing and distribution are all key industries. 

University of Kentucky & Bluegrass Community and Technical college

Lexington enjoys mild weather most of the year, but this Southern city is just far enough north to get about 13 inches of snow annually. A little snow doesn’t sound so bad by July and August, though, when highs are in the upper 80s. 

On the edge of Lexington, the 734-acre Raven Run Nature Sanctuary borders the Kentucky River, providing excellent wildlife viewing, 10 miles of trails and historic remnants of early 19th-century settlers, including the Prather Homestead and Evans Mill. Don’t miss the view from the 70-foot Kentucky River Overlook.

Lexington’s cost of living is far below the national average, and its fast internet speeds are available to most residents. There are a handful of coworking spaces, including multiple Base Here locations and an Awesome Inc branch. Lexington is currently considering a multi-million dollar incentive proposal to entice remote workers to relocate to the city, offering up to $10,000 in moving allowances.

More than just a large, independent bookstore, Joseph-Beth is part of the fabric of Lexington. Featuring two stories of books and gifts, along with onsite restaurant Brontë Bistro, the Joseph-Beth Give Back Rewards program allows customers to select a community partner to receive a percentage of every purchase made in the store. 

If you’re living in horse country, you should know a bit about the state’s equine history. Spend a day (or two) at Kentucky Horse Park. The park includes several museums, including the Smithsonian-affiliated International Museum of the Horse, Hall of Champions, Parade of Breeds show, stall-side chat on draft horses at Big Barn, trail rides, equine events and camping options.

Visit the Lexington Art League with free exhibitions of contemporary local and regional art in the historic Loudoun House. Did we mention it’s a castle in the middle of the city? 

For whiskey lovers, it’s hard to beat Bluegrass Tavern, which features Kentucky’s largest bourbon collection. However, if your tastes run to other forms of liquid refreshment, BGT has you covered with a full bar of traditional liquors, wine and craft beer on tap. 

In Lexington, home to some of the most famous horses in history, every thoroughbred has at least one trait in common. No matter when they were born during the year, all thoroughbreds in the Northern Hemisphere have a Jan. 1 birthday. 

Excellent public schools, a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and friendly residents make Lexington a best place to live in Kentucky.

This Bluegrass country gem might be smaller than neighboring Louisville, KY, and Cincinnati, OH, but the Lexington, KY real estate market is perhaps the most robust in all of Kentucky. Homebuyers looking to work, play, and breed horses in the area will find that the homes for sale in Lexington have a median sale price of over $286K, and homes stay on the market for around 37 days. With its urban lifestyle and sleek condos, areas like Historic downtown cater to the housing needs of the youngest homebuyers in Lexington, while families enjoy the suburban feel and Mid-century style single-detached homes of Beaumont, just steps away from the Kentucky countryside. A local eXp real estate agent can help once you feel ready to relocate to Lexington.