Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Denton leads 14 of 22 categories
Denton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($296,100 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $738/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,002)
35% less violent crime than Vista
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $16,794/yr
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,794 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
35% lower
204.2 vs 316.4 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$327k less
$296,100 vs $622,900
Denton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$16,794
$88,715 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Denton leads 14 of 22 categories. Denton wins 14 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $622,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Vista, CA are about 1,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.