Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley 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
Simi Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($159,600 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1482/mo less ($920 vs $2,402)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 9 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 Simi Valley by $58,005/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,005 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Edinburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Edinburg
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$545k less
$159,600 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$58,005
$112,144 vs $54,139/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
52% lower
129.1 vs 269.6 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 14.2% ✓ 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 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 9 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $704,200 median home), income ($54,139 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.