Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 21 categories
Chino
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chino, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $25,619 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($327,700 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $649/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,001)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Chino
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $25,619/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Median Income
$25,619
$99,385 vs $73,766/yr
Chino
Violent Crime
38% lower
299.5 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$272k less
$327,700 vs $599,200
Mesa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 21 categories. Chino wins 7 and Mesa wins 14. 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 Chino to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $327,700 median home), income ($99,385 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Mesa, AZ are about 344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.