Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 20 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
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,488 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 61°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 20% higher than Savannah
Savannah, GA
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($203,300 vs $679,000)
96% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $598/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,814)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $29,488/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$29,488
$84,236 vs $54,748/yr
Downey
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
96% lower
20.3 vs 460.5 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$476k less
$203,300 vs $679,000
Savannah
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 61.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 20 categories. Downey wins 7 and Savannah 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $203,300 median home), income ($84,236 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Savannah, GA are about 2,133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.