Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Allen leads 18 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
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.
Allen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($390,200 vs $679,000)
77% less violent crime than Downey
Households earn $37,023 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Downey, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Median income trails Allen by $37,023/yr
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$37,023
$121,259 vs $84,236/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
77% lower
106.4 vs 460.5 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$289k less
$390,200 vs $679,000
Allen
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 113,052 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 18 of 23 categories. Allen wins 18 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 Allen to Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $679,000 median home), income ($121,259 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Downey, CA are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.