Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Denton leads 18 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($296,100 vs $578,900)
61% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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 Income
$4,733
$71,921 vs $67,188/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
61% lower
204.2 vs 525.6 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$283k less
$296,100 vs $578,900
Denton
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 18 of 23 categories. Denton wins 18 and South Gate wins 5. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $578,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and South Gate, CA are about 1,211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.