Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 19 of 23 categories
Downey
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,903 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 102°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°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 19% higher than St. George
St. George, UT
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($415,200 vs $679,000)
54% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $14,903/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$14,903
$84,236 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
54% lower
210.0 vs 460.5 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$264k less
$415,200 vs $679,000
St. George
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
20.5°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 19 of 23 categories. Downey wins 4 and St. George wins 19. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $415,200 median home), income ($84,236 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and St. George, UT are about 336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.