Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Corona leads 14 of 22 categories
Corona
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Corona, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Vista
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $15,012 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Cons
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Vista, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Corona by $15,012/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Corona
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Corona
Median Income
$15,012
$103,727 vs $88,715/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
21% lower
249.4 vs 316.4 per 100k
Corona
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High | $622,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 13.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 11.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Corona is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Corona leads 14 of 22 categories. Corona wins 14 and Vista wins 8. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $622,900 median home), income ($103,727 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Vista, CA are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.