Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 18 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Grand Prairie
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Grand Prairie by $16,697/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($242,900 vs $597,200)
48% less violent crime than El Monte
Households earn $16,697 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,381 vs $1,605)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Prairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$16,697
$76,626 vs $59,929/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
48% lower
221.2 vs 423.2 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Median Home Value
$354k less
$242,900 vs $597,200
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Grand Prairie, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $242,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,381⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $76,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 28.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 26.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 81.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 59.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Grand Prairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 18 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 5 and Grand Prairie wins 18. 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 El Monte to Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $242,900 median home), income ($59,929 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Grand Prairie, TX are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.