Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Indio leads 14 of 21 categories
Downey
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,800 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Indio, CA
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($373,200 vs $679,000)
27% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $470/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $15,800/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$15,800
$84,236 vs $68,436/yr
Downey
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Indio
Violent Crime
27% lower
336.2 vs 460.5 per 100k
Indio
Median Home Value
$306k less
$373,200 vs $679,000
Indio
Summer Heat
24.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Indio, 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 | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Indio is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Indio leads 14 of 21 categories. Downey wins 7 and Indio wins 14. 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $373,200 median home), income ($84,236 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Indio, CA are about 110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.