Is New Lexington Safe, Pros and cons of living in New Lexington
New Lexington, Ohio, offers a glimpse into small-town American life, blending a sense of community with the practicalities of modern living. This Perry County seat presents a unique character shaped by its history and its current residents. Understanding the nuances of daily life, from safety and cost of living to employment and education, is key for anyone considering a move to this charming Ohio village.
The village provides a look at a community where affordability is a significant draw, with many residents owning their homes. It’s a place that appeals to those seeking a slower pace, a close-knit environment, and a connection to their neighbors. New Lexington’s landscape is dotted with a mix of home styles, reflecting its evolution over time.
Is it Safe to Live in New Lexington?
New Lexington presents a generally safe environment for its residents, with overall crime rates reported as lower than the national average. The city has a crime rate that is 21.5% lower than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes). This figure encompasses both violent and property crimes, contributing to a perception of security for those living within its bounds.
Digging deeper into the statistics, New Lexington recorded a murder rate of 0, a positive indicator for safety (as reported by AreaVibes). Violent crimes are reported at a rate of 316 per 100,000 individuals, which is 14.7% lower than the national average. Property crimes amount to 1,510 per 100,000 residents, also falling below the U.S. average by 22.7% (as reported by AreaVibes).
While the overall crime rate is favorable, it’s worth noting that crime statistics can vary by neighborhood. Some residents consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). The chance of being a victim of crime can range from 1 in 25 in central neighborhoods to 1 in 48 in the southeast (as reported by CrimeGrade.org).
Pros and Cons of Living in New Lexington
Housing Costs and Availability
The housing market in New Lexington is characterized by its affordability. The median home value in New Lexington is approximately $113,800, which is significantly lower than the national median of $332,700 (as reported by Data USA). This makes homeownership more accessible for many individuals and families.
Rental prices also reflect this affordability, with the average rent for all property types in New Lexington being $890 per month (as reported by Zillow). To comfortably afford the median rent, a household would need to earn approximately $24,000 per year, assuming no more than 30% of gross income is spent on housing (as reported by Homes.com).
However, the housing market can be competitive, with a high sales-to-list-price ratio of 96% and a typical price gap below list price of 4.46% (as reported by New Lexington, OH Housing Market: House Prices & Trends). While prices have seen a slight year-over-year increase of 2.15% (as reported by New Lexington, OH Housing Market: House Prices & Trends), the days on market have also increased, suggesting a potential shift in market dynamics.
Cost of Living
New Lexington stands out for its cost of living, which is notably lower than both the national and state averages. Overall living expenses are approximately 3% lower than the U.S. national average and 34% lower than Ohio’s state average (as reported by Salary.com). This affordability extends across various categories, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious individuals and families.
Housing costs are a significant factor in this lower cost of living, being 13.3% lower than the national average for a single person or family of four (as reported by Salary.com). Other essential expenses, such as food, energy, transportation, and healthcare, are also considerably less expensive compared to the national averages (as reported by Salary.com).
These lower expenses contribute to a comfortable lifestyle, even with a median household income that is lower than the national average. The median household income in New Lexington was $43,734 (as reported by Data USA), and $41,339 (as reported by Kurby AI), but the reduced cost of living helps to balance this out.
Job Market and Employment
The employment landscape in New Lexington is primarily driven by sectors such as Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Educational Services. These industries employ a significant portion of the local workforce, with Health Care & Social Assistance being the largest sector (as reported by Data USA).
Employment in New Lexington has seen growth, with a rate of 7.6% from the previous year, increasing the number of employees from 1.64k to 1.77k (as reported by Data USA). The average annual salary in New Lexington is approximately $43,156, translating to about $20.75 per hour (as reported by ZipRecruiter).
While the average salary is moderate, certain high-demand professions can command higher earnings. For instance, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Physical Therapy Assistants are among the top-paying jobs in the area, with salaries significantly above the city average (as reported by ZipRecruiter). The unemployment rate in Perry County, where New Lexington is located, is not explicitly detailed, but Ohio’s statewide unemployment rate was 4.0% in March 2026 (as reported by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services).
Climate and Environment
New Lexington experiences a climate characterized by distinct seasons. Summers are typically long, warm, and humid, while winters are short, very cold, and snowy, with partly cloudy conditions prevalent throughout the year (as reported by AccuWeather). The temperature generally ranges from 22°F to 84°F, rarely dropping below 4°F or exceeding 91°F (as reported by AccuWeather).
Rainfall is distributed throughout the year, with May being the wettest month, averaging 3.4 inches of precipitation. January sees the least amount of rain, with an average of 1.7 inches (as reported by AccuWeather). The chance of a wet day is higher from March to August, while the period from August to March tends to be drier (as reported by AccuWeather).
The warmest months are June, July, and August, with average high temperatures in the low to mid-80s Fahrenheit. Conversely, the coldest months are December, January, and February, with average low temperatures in the low to mid-20s Fahrenheit (as reported by AccuWeather).
Education and Schools
The New Lexington City School District serves the educational needs of the community. New Lexington High School demonstrates a strong 4-year graduation rate of 97.3% and 100% proficiency in Algebra I End of Course exams over the last two school years (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). However, its statewide ranking places it between 452-580 out of 855-867 Ohio high schools (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).
New Lexington Middle School has shown improvement in its statewide ranking, moving to 450th out of 1,036 Ohio middle schools (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). The district as a whole faces a challenge with a high chronic absenteeism rate of 23.8% (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).
Academically, state test scores indicate that 37% of students at New Lexington High School are proficient in math, and 74% are proficient in reading (as reported by Niche). The district’s overall Niche grade is a C, with a rating of 3.74 out of 5 (as reported by Niche).
Demographics and Community
New Lexington is home to a population of approximately 4,519 residents (as reported by Data USA). The community is predominantly White, making up about 96.7% of the population, with smaller percentages identifying as Multiracial or Hispanic (as reported by Census Dots). The percentage of White residents is significantly higher than the Ohio state average (as reported by Census Dots).
The median age in New Lexington is 38.8 years (as reported by Data USA). The age distribution shows about 19.4% of the population are children under 15, with adults between 25 and 44 making up the largest segment at 32.4% (as reported by Point2Homes).
A notable aspect of New Lexington’s demographics is its poverty rate, which stands at 27.4% for the population where poverty status is determined. This rate is considerably higher than the national average of 12.5% (as reported by Data USA).
Major Employers and Economic Drivers
The economic activity in New Lexington is supported by several key industries. Health Care & Social Assistance is the largest employment sector, followed by Retail Trade and Educational Services (as reported by Data USA). Other significant employers in the broader Ohio region include large corporations like Cleveland Clinic, Walmart, and Amazon.com, Inc. (as reported by Ohio Department of Development).
While specific major employers within New Lexington itself are not extensively detailed in available data, companies like McDonald’s, Kroger, and Dollar General are present in the area (as reported by Indeed.com). The industrial sector is also represented by companies such as Ludowici Roof Tile, which has a long history in the region (as reported by Homes.com).
The economic growth in New Lexington has shown positive trends, with employment increasing by 7.6% and the number of employees growing from 1.64k to 1.77k (as reported by Data USA). The average per capita income is $41,334 (as reported by New Lexington, OH Demographics: Population, Income, and More), contributing to the overall economic picture of the village.