Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
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
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 98°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,822 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
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
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($397,500 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,814)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 41.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$5,822
$84,236 vs $78,414/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
16% lower
460.5 vs 551.0 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$282k less
$397,500 vs $679,000
Palmdale
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Downey wins 10 and Palmdale wins 10. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $397,500 median home), income ($84,236 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 45 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.