Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Downey
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.6%)
11% less violent crime than Hesperia
Households earn $16,538 more per year on average
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°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)
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($337,600 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,814)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Downey by $16,538/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$16,538
$84,236 vs $67,698/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
11% lower
460.5 vs 519.6 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$341k less
$337,600 vs $679,000
Hesperia
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Downey wins 11 and Hesperia wins 11. 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $337,600 median home), income ($84,236 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Hesperia, CA are about 56 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.