Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Downey leads 10 of 19 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
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Homes cost $144k less ($679,000 vs $822,600)
Households earn $7,992 more per year on average
Cons
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)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$7,992
$84,236 vs $76,244/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
37% lower
460.5 vs 728.5 per 100k
Downey
Median Home Value
$144k less
$679,000 vs $822,600
Downey
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Downey
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 78.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Downey leads 10 of 19 categories. Downey wins 10 and Los Angeles wins 9. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $822,600 median home), income ($84,236 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Los Angeles, CA are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.