Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Lexington?

Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Lexington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $35,000 in Lexington.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Lexington?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Concord vs Lexington Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Lexington

Kentucky

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,080 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 19% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio

$876

$769

+12% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$887

+22% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,119

+24% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,408

+20% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$272,100

+16% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$67,631

+19% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$48,620

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

35.2 yr

+5.5 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

53.6%

+3.8 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

47.3%

+7.2 pp in Lexington, KY

Avg Commute

23.2 min

20.8 min

+2.4 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

269.1

+49% in Lexington, KY

Property Crime

1,251.5

2,304.4

+84% in Lexington, KY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

55.6°F

+9.2°F in Lexington, KY

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

45.2 in

+4.6 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

14.3

+47% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$33.20

+53% in Lexington, KY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Lexington, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / KY)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.50%

+3.5 pp in KY

Concord vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Lexington?: Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Lexington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Lexington?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).