Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 13 of 22 categories
Chino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,385
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
91,008
San Marcos
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($599,200 vs $728,800)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
San Marcos, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Chino
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chino
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Chino
Median Home Value
$130k less
$599,200 vs $728,800
Chino
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Violent Crime
26% lower
222.4 vs 299.5 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 68.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 13.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 94,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Chino is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 13 of 22 categories. Chino wins 9 and San Marcos wins 13. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $728,800 median home), income ($99,385 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and San Marcos, CA are about 65 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.