Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Lehigh Acres leads 11 of 19 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $393k less ($231,500 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $455/mo less ($1,398 vs $1,853)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $26,885/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,885 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$393k less
$231,500 vs $624,800
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$26,885
$86,618 vs $59,733/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 34.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Lehigh Acres leads 11 of 19 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 11 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $624,800 median home), income ($59,733 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Richmond, CA are about 2,482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.