Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Knoxville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $15,810 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $398k less ($184,200 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,369)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $15,810/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$15,810
$64,119 vs $48,309/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
25% lower
558.4 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$398k less
$184,200 vs $582,400
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 8 and Knoxville 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 East Los Angeles to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $184,200 median home), income ($64,119 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Knoxville, TN are about 1,931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.