Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lehigh Acres, FL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 20 categories
Lehigh Acres
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Wichita
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
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 44°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Wichita, KS
Pros
Rent averages $483/mo less ($915 vs $1,398)
Homes cost $65k less ($166,400 vs $231,500)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$979
$60,712 vs $59,733/yr
Wichita
Median Home Value
$65k less
$166,400 vs $231,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh Acres, FL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.3⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $231,500 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,398⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,733 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.3 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.4" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,440 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh Acres's cost of living index is 102.3 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 20 categories. Lehigh Acres wins 6 and Wichita wins 14. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($231,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($59,733 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lehigh Acres, FL and Wichita, KS are about 1,193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.