Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Downey leads 12 of 23 categories
Downey
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,831 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Toledo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($98,800 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $960/mo less ($854 vs $1,814)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $38,831/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$38,831
$84,236 vs $45,405/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
56% lower
460.5 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$580k less
$98,800 vs $679,000
Toledo
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Downey leads 12 of 23 categories. Downey wins 12 and Toledo wins 11. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $98,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Toledo, OH are about 1,946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.