Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 16 of 23 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
Kenosha
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,273 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($194,400 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $735/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,814)
38% less violent crime than Downey
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $19,273/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$19,273
$84,236 vs $64,963/yr
Kenosha
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Violent Crime
38% lower
285.7 vs 460.5 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$485k less
$194,400 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $64,963 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories. Downey wins 7 and Kenosha wins 16. 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $194,400 median home), income ($84,236 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Kenosha, WI are about 1,735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.