Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York leads 15 of 23 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
New York
New York
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($489,400 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,714)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails New York by $6,879/yr
New York, NY
Pros
47% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,879 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$243k less
$489,400 vs $732,100
New York
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New York
Median Income
$6,879
$76,607 vs $69,728/yr
New York
Violent Crime
47% lower
671.0 vs 1271.7 per 100k
New York
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New York is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 15 of 23 categories. Compton wins 8 and New York wins 15. 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 Compton to New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $732,100 median home), income ($69,728 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and New York, NY are about 2,453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.