Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 14 of 22 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,814 vs $2,162)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tracy by $27,481/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tracy, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Downey
Households earn $27,481 more per year on average
Homes cost $62k less ($617,300 vs $679,000)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$27,481
$111,717 vs $84,236/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
35% lower
301.4 vs 460.5 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$62k less
$617,300 vs $679,000
Tracy
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 14 of 22 categories. Downey wins 8 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $617,300 median home), income ($84,236 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Tracy, CA are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.