Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 17 of 23 categories
Downey
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Grand Prairie
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,626
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,610 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Homes cost $436k less ($242,900 vs $679,000)
52% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,381 vs $1,814)
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $7,610/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$7,610
$84,236 vs $76,626/yr
Grand Prairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
52% lower
221.2 vs 460.5 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Median Home Value
$436k less
$242,900 vs $679,000
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Grand Prairie, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $242,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,381⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $76,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 81.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 59.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Grand Prairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 17 of 23 categories. Downey wins 6 and Grand Prairie wins 17. 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $242,900 median home), income ($84,236 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Grand Prairie, TX are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.