Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Grand Rapids leads 12 of 20 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Lehigh Acres
Florida
8
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,398)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $28k less ($203,900 vs $231,500)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Grand Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$1,901
$61,634 vs $59,733/yr
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$28k less
$203,900 vs $231,500
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $231,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 ✓ Higher | $59,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 124,440 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Grand Rapids leads 12 of 20 categories. Grand Rapids wins 12 and Lehigh Acres wins 8. 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 Grand Rapids to Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $231,500 median home), income ($61,634 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 1,152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.