Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 13 of 22 categories
Compton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $698/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,162)
Homes cost $128k less ($489,400 vs $617,300)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $41,989/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
Tracy, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $41,989 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$128k less
$489,400 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$41,989
$111,717 vs $69,728/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
76% lower
301.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 13 of 22 categories. Compton wins 9 and Tracy wins 13. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $617,300 median home), income ($69,728 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Tracy, CA are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.