Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $724k less ($159,600 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1702/mo less ($920 vs $2,622)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $82,431/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,431 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Edinburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Edinburg
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$724k less
$159,600 vs $883,600
Edinburg
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$82,431
$136,570 vs $54,139/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
63% lower
99.2 vs 269.6 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 9 and Mission Viejo 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 Edinburg to Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $883,600 median home), income ($54,139 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.