Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 17 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($489,400 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $600/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,064)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $29,685/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 Marcos, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $29,685 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$239k less
$489,400 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Income
$29,685
$99,413 vs $69,728/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
83% lower
222.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 13.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 17 of 22 categories. Compton wins 5 and San Marcos 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 Compton to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($69,728 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and San Marcos, CA are about 80 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.