Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Antioch
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,780 more per year on average
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $26k less ($570,900 vs $597,200)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3193.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
El Monte, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Antioch
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,605 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Antioch by $30,780/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$30,780
$90,709 vs $59,929/yr
Antioch
Median Home Value
$26k less
$570,900 vs $597,200
Antioch
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 85.5°F
El Monte
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
El Monte
Violent Crime
30% lower
423.2 vs 606.8 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 15.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
El Monte is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Antioch wins 11 and El Monte wins 11. 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 Antioch to El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $597,200 median home), income ($90,709 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and El Monte, CA are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.