Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
South Gate, 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
South Gate
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($231,500 vs $578,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
More college-educated — 15.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 68°F
Cons
Median income trails South Gate by $7,455/yr
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
South Gate, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,455 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
$347k less
$231,500 vs $578,900
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$7,455
$67,188 vs $59,733/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Lehigh Acres leads 15 of 19 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 15 and South Gate 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $578,900 median home), income ($59,733 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and South Gate, CA are about 2,227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.