Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Chico leads 11 of 20 categories
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Lehigh Acres
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,199 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Lehigh Acres
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($231,500 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 56°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cons
Median income trails Chico by $6,199/yr
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$6,199
$65,932 vs $59,733/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.6°F
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$196k less
$231,500 vs $427,600
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $231,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $59,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 124,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Chico leads 11 of 20 categories. Chico wins 11 and Lehigh Acres wins 9. 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 Chico to Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $231,500 median home), income ($65,932 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 2,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.