Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 19 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($231,500 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($1,398 vs $2,402)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $52,411/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,411 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lehigh Acres
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
$473k less
$231,500 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$52,411
$112,144 vs $59,733/yr
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 38 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 34 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 44 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 13 of 19 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 6 and Simi Valley wins 13. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $704,200 median home), income ($59,733 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Simi Valley, CA are about 2,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.