Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $588k less ($296,100 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1358/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,622)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $64,649/yr
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,649 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Denton
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Denton
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Median Home Value
$588k less
$296,100 vs $883,600
Denton
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$64,649
$136,570 vs $71,921/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
51% lower
99.2 vs 204.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton wins 8 and Mission Viejo wins 15. 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 Denton to Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $883,600 median home), income ($71,921 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.