Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 15 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
West Covina
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($341,700 vs $664,500)
30% less violent crime than West Covina
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,054)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.0%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
West Covina, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
30% lower
166.8 vs 239.3 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$323k less
$341,700 vs $664,500
Buckeye
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.7% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$2,031
$96,219 vs $94,188/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 15 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 15 and West Covina wins 7. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($94,188 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and West Covina, CA are about 306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.