Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 20 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($231,500 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 28°F
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $15,162/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Madison, WI
Pros
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $15,162 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,398)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$95k less
$231,500 vs $326,600
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$15,162
$74,895 vs $59,733/yr
Madison
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 20 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 8 and Madison 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 Lehigh Acres to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $326,600 median home), income ($59,733 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Madison, WI are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.