Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $689k less ($159,600 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1228/mo less ($920 vs $2,148)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 7 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 Orange by $55,196/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,196 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Edinburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$689k less
$159,600 vs $848,200
Edinburg
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$55,196
$109,335 vs $54,139/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
16% lower
226.1 vs 269.6 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 8 and Orange 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 Edinburg to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $848,200 median home), income ($54,139 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Orange, CA are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.