Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 16 of 21 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Orange
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($489,400 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,148)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $39,607/yr
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
Orange, CA
Pros
82% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $39,607 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$359k less
$489,400 vs $848,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Orange
Median Income
$39,607
$109,335 vs $69,728/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
82% lower
226.1 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Orange
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 16 of 21 categories. Compton wins 5 and Orange wins 16. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $848,200 median home), income ($69,728 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Orange, CA are about 22 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.