Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Chandler leads 19 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $39,445 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than El Monte
Homes cost $173k less ($423,900 vs $597,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
El Monte, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $39,445/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Chandler
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Income
$39,445
$99,374 vs $59,929/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
68% lower
133.4 vs 423.2 per 100k
Chandler
Median Home Value
$173k less
$423,900 vs $597,200
Chandler
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $59,929 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 68.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 15.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 19 of 22 categories. Chandler wins 19 and El Monte wins 3. 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 Chandler to El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $597,200 median home), income ($99,374 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and El Monte, CA are about 359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.