Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Lehigh Acres
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($231,500 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,398 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $41,989/yr
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $41,989 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$474k less
$231,500 vs $705,000
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$41,989
$101,722 vs $59,733/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Lehigh Acres wins 10 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $705,000 median home), income ($59,733 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Washington, DC are about 890 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.