Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1098k less ($582,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1621/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,990)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $110,387/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)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $110,387 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$1098k less
$582,400 vs $1,680,700
East Los Angeles
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 82.0°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$110,387
$174,506 vs $64,119/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
56% lower
244.5 vs 558.4 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 7 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($64,119 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.