Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Lehigh Acres leads 12 of 20 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Lehigh Acres
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,398)
Homes cost $33k less ($198,900 vs $231,500)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lehigh Acres by $17,892/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.5%)
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $17,892 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 37°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Hartford
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$33k less
$198,900 vs $231,500
Lehigh Acres
Median Income
$17,892
$59,733 vs $41,841/yr
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.6% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $231,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $59,733 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 81.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 124,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Lehigh Acres leads 12 of 20 categories. Hartford wins 8 and Lehigh Acres wins 12. 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 Hartford to Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $231,500 median home), income ($41,841 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.