Lexington, Kentucky
Rank: 25
Population: 299,520

Kentucky’s second-largest city, Lexington is known as the “Horse Capital of the World” for its large horse-breeding operations less than 80 miles from the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Lexington’s residents enjoy strong employment rates and median income, but much of the city’s night life depends on its temporary residents—the thousands of student Wildcats at the local University of Kentucky.

Bars: 49
Restaurants: 658
Museums: 17
Libraries: 14
Pro sports teams: 1
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 21
Colleges: 3
Percent with graduate degree: 11
Median household income: $69,697
Percent unemployed: 6.5