Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 East Los Angeles leads 12 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Oakland
Homes cost $301k less ($582,400 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $480/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,849)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $30,270/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,270 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
71% lower
558.4 vs 1925.3 per 100k
East Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$301k less
$582,400 vs $883,800
East Los Angeles
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$30,270
$94,389 vs $64,119/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
East Los Angeles is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, East Los Angeles leads 12 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 12 and Oakland wins 10. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($64,119 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Oakland, CA are about 344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.