Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 12 of 22 categories
Corona
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,727
Violent Crime Index
66
Population
158,346
Huntington Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Corona, CA
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($624,200 vs $976,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $298/mo less ($2,020 vs $2,318)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $11,020/yr
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Corona
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,020 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Corona
Median Home Value
$353k less
$624,200 vs $976,800
Corona
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$11,020
$114,747 vs $103,727/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
17% lower
207.3 vs 249.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 67.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Corona is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 12 of 22 categories. Corona wins 10 and Huntington Beach 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 Corona to Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $976,800 median home), income ($103,727 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 28 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.