Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Gainesville, FL
🏆 Gainesville leads 12 of 22 categories
Downey
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Gainesville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,453 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Gainesville
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Gainesville
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $462k less ($216,600 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,814)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $40,453/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$40,453
$84,236 vs $43,783/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
38% lower
460.5 vs 738.0 per 100k
Gainesville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$462k less
$216,600 vs $679,000
Gainesville
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Gainesville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $216,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,151 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $43,783 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 50.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | ALACHUA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 142,414 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 26.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Gainesville's 96.9 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gainesville leads 12 of 22 categories. Downey wins 10 and Gainesville wins 12. 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 Downey to Gainesville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $216,600 median home), income ($84,236 vs $43,783), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Gainesville, FL are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.