Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,046 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($423,500 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $19,046/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$19,046
$101,984 vs $82,938/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
5% lower
375.8 vs 394.4 per 100k
Sparks
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Home Value
$224k less
$423,500 vs $647,100
Sparks
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.8% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. Chula Vista wins 11 and Sparks wins 12. 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 Chula Vista to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $423,500 median home), income ($101,984 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Sparks, NV are about 503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.