Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Allen leads 14 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,823 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Indio
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Indio, CA
Pros
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $17k less ($373,200 vs $390,200)
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $52,823/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allen
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$52,823
$121,259 vs $68,436/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
68% lower
106.4 vs 336.2 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Median Home Value
$17k less
$373,200 vs $390,200
Indio
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 95.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 69.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Allen is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 14 of 23 categories. Allen wins 14 and Indio wins 9. 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $373,200 median home), income ($121,259 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Indio, CA are about 1,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.