Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 14 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Vancouver
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $156/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,525)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
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)
Median income trails Vancouver by $9,507/yr
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($403,400 vs $582,400)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,507 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
4% lower
558.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Vancouver
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Income
$9,507
$73,626 vs $64,119/yr
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$179k less
$403,400 vs $582,400
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 14 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 9 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $403,400 median home), income ($64,119 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.