Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($416,500 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,064)
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $20,867/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
San Marcos, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Households earn $20,867 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Ann Arbor
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Median Home Value
$312k less
$416,500 vs $728,800
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.2% unemployment
San Marcos
Median Income
$20,867
$99,413 vs $78,546/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
26% lower
222.4 vs 302.5 per 100k
San Marcos
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and San Marcos wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $728,800 median home), income ($78,546 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and San Marcos, CA are about 1,920 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.