Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Downey leads 12 of 22 categories
Downey
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
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 San Leandro
Homes cost $94k less ($679,000 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,814 vs $1,997)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
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)
Median income trails San Leandro by $12,905/yr
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,905 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 81°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Downey
Violent Crime
16% lower
460.5 vs 548.7 per 100k
Downey
Median Home Value
$94k less
$679,000 vs $772,700
Downey
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$12,905
$97,141 vs $84,236/yr
San Leandro
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Downey is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Downey leads 12 of 22 categories. Downey wins 12 and San Leandro 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $772,700 median home), income ($84,236 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and San Leandro, CA are about 344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.