Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 16 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $433k less ($280,700 vs $713,600)
39% less violent crime than Anaheim
Rent averages $558/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,958)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$1,910
$90,448 vs $88,538/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
39% lower
364.9 vs 596.2 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$433k less
$280,700 vs $713,600
Midland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 16 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 7 and Midland wins 16. 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 Anaheim to Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $280,700 median home), income ($88,538 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Midland, TX are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.