Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Corona leads 17 of 22 categories
Corona
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Corona, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Downey
Households earn $19,491 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $55k less ($624,200 vs $679,000)
More college-educated — 30.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,020/mo
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Downey, CA
Pros
Rent averages $206/mo less ($1,814 vs $2,020)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Corona by $19,491/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Corona
Median Income
$19,491
$103,727 vs $84,236/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
46% lower
249.4 vs 460.5 per 100k
Corona
Median Home Value
$55k less
$624,200 vs $679,000
Corona
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 ✓ Higher | $84,236 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Corona is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Corona leads 17 of 22 categories. Corona wins 17 and Downey wins 5. 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 Corona to Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $679,000 median home), income ($103,727 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Downey, CA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.