Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Households earn $5,600 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($423,500 vs $713,600)
34% less violent crime than Anaheim
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,958)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Anaheim by $5,600/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$5,600
$88,538 vs $82,938/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
34% lower
394.4 vs 596.2 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$290k less
$423,500 vs $713,600
Sparks
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 8 and Sparks wins 15. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $423,500 median home), income ($88,538 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Sparks, NV are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.