Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Allen leads 17 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
El Monte
California
6
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.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $61,330 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than El Monte
Homes cost $207k less ($390,200 vs $597,200)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,605 vs $1,747)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $61,330/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Allen
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$61,330
$121,259 vs $59,929/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
75% lower
106.4 vs 423.2 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$207k less
$390,200 vs $597,200
Allen
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 108,682 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 17 of 23 categories. Allen wins 17 and El Monte wins 6. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $597,200 median home), income ($121,259 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and El Monte, CA are about 1,229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.