Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($461,500 vs $679,000)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Downey, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$2,320
$86,556 vs $84,236/yr
Austin
Median Home Value
$218k less
$461,500 vs $679,000
Austin
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin wins 13 and Downey wins 10. 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 Austin to Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $679,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Downey, CA are about 1,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.