Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 20 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
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 2.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 34°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Peoria
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($146,700 vs $231,500)
Rent averages $481/mo less ($917 vs $1,398)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Median Income
$1,665
$59,733 vs $58,068/yr
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$85k less
$146,700 vs $231,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 20 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 8 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $146,700 median home), income ($59,733 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Peoria, IL are about 1,078 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.