Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Sunrise leads 13 of 19 categories
Lancaster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Sunrise
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,001
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,846)
Households earn $5,366 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.5%)
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($296,100 vs $368,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 59°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Median income trails Lancaster by $5,366/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$5,366
$71,367 vs $66,001/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 91.1°F
Sunrise
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunrise
Median Home Value
$73k less
$296,100 vs $368,800
Sunrise
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $66,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 10.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 19.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Sunrise is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Sunrise leads 13 of 19 categories. Lancaster wins 6 and Sunrise wins 13. 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 Lancaster to Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $296,100 median home), income ($71,367 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Sunrise, FL are about 2,319 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.