Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 17 of 22 categories
Chino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,385
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
91,008
Simi Valley
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $401/mo less ($2,001 vs $2,402)
Homes cost $105k less ($599,200 vs $704,200)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $12,759/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Chino
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,759 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Chino
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Chino
Median Home Value
$105k less
$599,200 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$12,759
$112,144 vs $99,385/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
57% lower
129.1 vs 299.5 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Chino is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 17 of 22 categories. Chino wins 5 and Simi Valley wins 17. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $704,200 median home), income ($99,385 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 66 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.