Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Texas instead of Kentucky, you would:
Health
live 3.0 years longer
In Kentucky, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Texas, that number is 76 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.
be 12.6% more likely to have diabetes
In Kentucky, 11.9% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Texas, that number is 13.4% as of 2022.
Economy
make 39.8% more money
Kentucky has a GDP per capita of $50,135 as of 2024, while in Texas, the GDP per capita is $70,071 as of 2024.
be 18.2% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Kentucky, 15.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Texas, however, that number is 12.6% as of 2023.
be 11.4% more likely to be unemployed
In Kentucky, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Texas, that number is 3.9% as of 2025.
Safety
be 77.2% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Kentucky has a violent crime rate of 220 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Texas, that number is 391 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 41.2% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Kentucky has a property crime rate of 1,525 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Texas, that number is 2,153 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 22.2% more money
The median household income in Kentucky is $62,417 as of 2023, while in Texas, it is $76,292 as of 2023.
pay 35.4% more for a home
The median home value in Kentucky is $192,300 as of 2023, compared to $260,400 in Texas as of 2023.
pay 43.5% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Kentucky is $933 as of 2023, while in Texas, it is $1,339 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 21.4% less likely to smoke
In Kentucky, 18.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Texas, that number is 14.7% as of 2022.
be 11.7% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Kentucky, 18.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Texas, that number is 20.1% as of 2023.
be 3.8 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Kentucky, 2.5% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Texas, that number is 9.4% as of 2023.
commute 2.7 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Kentucky takes 24.0 minutes as of 2023. In Texas, it takes 26.7 minutes as of 2023.
be 2.8 times more likely to be uninsured
In Kentucky, 5.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Texas, that number is 16.0% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 3.6 years older on average
The median age in Kentucky is 39.1 years as of 2023. In Texas, the median age is 35.5 years as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
