Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Albuquerque leads 14 of 19 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Lehigh Acres
Florida
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,398)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Albuquerque
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$1,770
$61,503 vs $59,733/yr
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.6°F
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$15k less
$231,500 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $231,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $59,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 124,440 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 14 of 19 categories. Albuquerque wins 14 and Lehigh Acres wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $231,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 1,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.