Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 20 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 36°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Median income trails Springfield by $2,686/yr
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($147,700 vs $231,500)
Rent averages $485/mo less ($913 vs $1,398)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$2,686
$62,419 vs $59,733/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$84k less
$147,700 vs $231,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 20 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 7 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $147,700 median home), income ($59,733 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Springfield, IL are about 1,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.