Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 10 of 18 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($231,500 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,398 vs $1,614)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $4,311/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,311 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lehigh Acres
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lehigh Acres
Median Home Value
$93k less
$231,500 vs $324,800
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$4,311
$64,044 vs $59,733/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F | 74.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 61.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Lehigh Acres is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 10 of 18 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 8 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($59,733 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 94 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.