Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1385k less ($296,100 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1726/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,990)
16% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $102,585/yr
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $102,585 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Denton
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
16% lower
204.2 vs 244.5 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$1385k less
$296,100 vs $1,680,700
Denton
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$102,585
$174,506 vs $71,921/yr
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Denton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 10 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($71,921 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.