Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 13 of 23 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
San Antonio
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,643 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than San Antonio
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $481k less ($198,000 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,814)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $24,643/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$24,643
$84,236 vs $59,593/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
22% lower
460.5 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$481k less
$198,000 vs $679,000
San Antonio
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 13 of 23 categories. Downey wins 10 and San Antonio wins 13. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $198,000 median home), income ($84,236 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.