Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 12 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $387k less ($341,700 vs $728,800)
25% less violent crime than San Marcos
Rent averages $467/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,064)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 20.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails San Marcos by $5,225/yr
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
Households earn $5,225 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
25% lower
166.8 vs 222.4 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$387k less
$341,700 vs $728,800
Buckeye
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$5,225
$99,413 vs $94,188/yr
San Marcos
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 13.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 12 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 12 and San Marcos 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 Buckeye to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $728,800 median home), income ($94,188 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and San Marcos, CA are about 262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.