Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 17 of 22 categories
Downey
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($423,500 vs $679,000)
14% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $288/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$1,298
$84,236 vs $82,938/yr
Downey
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
14% lower
394.4 vs 460.5 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$256k less
$423,500 vs $679,000
Sparks
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 17 of 22 categories. Downey wins 5 and Sparks wins 17. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $423,500 median home), income ($84,236 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Sparks, NV are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.