Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Rent averages $79/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,464)
Homes cost $23k less ($466,300 vs $489,400)
Cons
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Compton by $5,249/yr
Compton, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Households earn $5,249 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
59% lower
518.1 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$23k less
$466,300 vs $489,400
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 77.2°F
Compton
Median Income
$5,249
$69,728 vs $64,479/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $489,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $69,728 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 16 and Compton wins 6. 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 Arden-Arcade to Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $489,400 median home), income ($64,479 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Compton, CA are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.