Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa 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
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,434 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°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)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $346k less ($333,200 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,814)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Downey by $17,434/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$17,434
$84,236 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
3% lower
444.6 vs 460.5 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$346k less
$333,200 vs $679,000
Tampa
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories. Downey wins 5 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $333,200 median home), income ($84,236 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.