Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Chandler leads 18 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $553k less ($423,900 vs $976,800)
36% less violent crime than Huntington Beach
Rent averages $643/mo less ($1,675 vs $2,318)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $15,373/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,373 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
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
Violent Crime
36% lower
133.4 vs 207.3 per 100k
Chandler
Median Home Value
$553k less
$423,900 vs $976,800
Chandler
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
27.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$15,373
$114,747 vs $99,374/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 16.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 18 of 22 categories. Chandler wins 18 and Huntington Beach wins 4. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $976,800 median home), income ($99,374 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Huntington Beach, CA are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.