Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 17 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,064)
Homes cost $15k less ($713,600 vs $728,800)
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails San Marcos by $10,875/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Anaheim
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,875 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$15k less
$713,600 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Income
$10,875
$99,413 vs $88,538/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
63% lower
222.4 vs 596.2 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 68.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 17 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 5 and San Marcos wins 17. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $728,800 median home), income ($88,538 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and San Marcos, CA are about 60 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.