Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Lehigh Acres leads 15 of 19 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($231,500 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,398 vs $1,768)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $21,504/yr
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,504 more per year on average
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$207k less
$231,500 vs $438,100
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$21,504
$81,237 vs $59,733/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Lehigh Acres leads 15 of 19 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 15 and Santa Maria wins 4. 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 Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($59,733 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.