Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 20 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Lehigh Acres
Florida
7
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,977 more per year on average
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,398)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($231,500 vs $316,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $14,977/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$14,977
$74,710 vs $59,733/yr
Durham
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$85k less
$231,500 vs $316,600
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $231,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $59,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 124,440 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Durham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 20 categories. Durham wins 13 and Lehigh Acres wins 7. 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 Durham to Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $231,500 median home), income ($74,710 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 667 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.