Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Alafaya leads 14 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($361,800 vs $679,000)
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Households earn $9,015 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Downey, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Income
$9,015
$93,251 vs $84,236/yr
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$317k less
$361,800 vs $679,000
Alafaya
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Alafaya
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 113,052 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 14 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 14 and Downey wins 5. 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 Alafaya to Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $679,000 median home), income ($93,251 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Downey, CA are about 2,202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.