Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 14 of 23 categories
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Shreveport
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,269 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Shreveport
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($168,900 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $869/mo less ($945 vs $1,814)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $38,269/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$38,269
$84,236 vs $45,967/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
63% lower
460.5 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$510k less
$168,900 vs $679,000
Shreveport
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 14 of 23 categories. Downey wins 9 and Shreveport wins 14. 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $168,900 median home), income ($84,236 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.