Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Alafaya leads 12 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($361,800 vs $597,200)
Households earn $33,322 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
El Monte, CA
Pros
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,605 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Alafaya by $33,322/yr
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
$33,322
$93,251 vs $59,929/yr
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$235k less
$361,800 vs $597,200
Alafaya
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Alafaya
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 68.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 108,682 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 12 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 12 and El Monte wins 7. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $597,200 median home), income ($93,251 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and El Monte, CA are about 2,197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.