Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Denton leads 14 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Redding
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Homes cost $47k less ($296,100 vs $343,000)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,598 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Redding, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$4,598
$71,921 vs $67,323/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
68% lower
204.2 vs 647.8 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$47k less
$296,100 vs $343,000
Denton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 95.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 14 of 23 categories. Denton wins 14 and Redding wins 9. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $343,000 median home), income ($71,921 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Redding, CA are about 1,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.