Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 16 of 21 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
Simi Valley
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Rent averages $444/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,402)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Simi Valley by $23,606/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Anaheim
Households earn $23,606 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Simi Valley
Median Income
$23,606
$112,144 vs $88,538/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
78% lower
129.1 vs 596.2 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Simi Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 16 of 21 categories. Anaheim wins 5 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $704,200 median home), income ($88,538 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 63 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.