Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 18 of 22 categories
Inglewood
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Lakeland
Florida
18
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.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,273 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $482k less ($207,800 vs $689,700)
92% less violent crime than Inglewood
Rent averages $449/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,666)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Cons
Median income trails Inglewood by $9,273/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Inglewood
Median Income
$9,273
$67,563 vs $58,290/yr
Lakeland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
92% lower
56.0 vs 674.6 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$482k less
$207,800 vs $689,700
Lakeland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 | 114,404 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 18 of 22 categories. Inglewood wins 4 and Lakeland wins 18. 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 Inglewood to Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $207,800 median home), income ($67,563 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Lakeland, FL are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.