Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Lakeland leads 18 of 23 categories
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
Lynn
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($207,800 vs $442,800)
90% less violent crime than Lynn
Rent averages $294/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,511)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 36°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lynn by $11,756/yr
Lynn, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,756 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
90% lower
56.0 vs 574.6 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$235k less
$207,800 vs $442,800
Lakeland
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Income
$11,756
$70,046 vs $58,290/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 18 of 23 categories. Lakeland wins 18 and Lynn wins 5. 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 Lakeland to Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $442,800 median home), income ($58,290 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Lynn, MA are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.