Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 San Leandro leads 12 of 22 categories
Compton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($489,400 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $533/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,997)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $27,413/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
San Leandro, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $27,413 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 77°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Compton
Median Home Value
$283k less
$489,400 vs $772,700
Compton
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$27,413
$97,141 vs $69,728/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
57% lower
548.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Compton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Leandro leads 12 of 22 categories. Compton wins 10 and San Leandro 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 Compton to San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $772,700 median home), income ($69,728 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and San Leandro, CA are about 343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.