Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 11 of 19 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Santa Clarita
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $438k less ($231,500 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $917/mo less ($1,398 vs $2,315)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 63°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $56,453/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,453 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lehigh Acres
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$438k less
$231,500 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$56,453
$116,186 vs $59,733/yr
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 35.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 11 of 19 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 8 and Santa Clarita wins 11. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $669,200 median home), income ($59,733 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.