Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Hemet leads 14 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,578 more per year on average
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (8.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($277,200 vs $466,300)
18% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $14,578/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.1%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$14,578
$64,479 vs $49,901/yr
Arden-Arcade
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Violent Crime
18% lower
424.8 vs 518.1 per 100k
Hemet
Median Home Value
$189k less
$277,200 vs $466,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $277,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hemet leads 14 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and Hemet wins 14. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $277,200 median home), income ($64,479 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Hemet, CA are about 416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.