Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Salinas
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($296,100 vs $573,600)
61% less violent crime than Salinas
Rent averages $531/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,795)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
Cons
Median income trails Salinas by $12,329/yr
Salinas, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,329 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
61% lower
204.2 vs 524.5 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$278k less
$296,100 vs $573,600
Denton
Summer Heat
25.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 70.7°F
Salinas
Median Income
$12,329
$84,250 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $84,250 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 162,783 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 31.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Denton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton wins 15 and Salinas 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 Denton to Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $573,600 median home), income ($71,921 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Salinas, CA are about 1,404 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.