Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Lehigh Acres leads 12 of 20 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $81k less ($231,500 vs $312,300)
Households earn $13,273 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 39°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Newark, NJ
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,398)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lehigh Acres by $13,273/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Income
$13,273
$59,733 vs $46,460/yr
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$81k less
$231,500 vs $312,300
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 17.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Lehigh Acres leads 12 of 20 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 12 and Newark wins 8. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $312,300 median home), income ($59,733 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Newark, NJ are about 1,064 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.