Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos 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
San Marcos
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $569k less ($159,600 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1144/mo less ($920 vs $2,064)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
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 San Marcos by $45,274/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,274 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Edinburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Edinburg
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$569k less
$159,600 vs $728,800
Edinburg
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$45,274
$99,413 vs $54,139/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
18% lower
222.4 vs 269.6 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 68.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 9 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $728,800 median home), income ($54,139 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.