Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 14 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
97,542
Lakeland
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $39,017 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($207,800 vs $396,100)
69% less violent crime than Goodyear
Rent averages $494/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,711)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $39,017/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$39,017
$97,307 vs $58,290/yr
Goodyear
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 92.1°F
Lakeland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
69% lower
56.0 vs 182.2 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$188k less
$207,800 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 114,404 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 14 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 8 and Lakeland wins 14. 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 Goodyear to Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $207,800 median home), income ($97,307 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Lakeland, FL are about 1,836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.