Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 17 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Hampton
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ 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 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Hampton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $377k less ($219,800 vs $597,200)
41% less violent crime than El Monte
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,605)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Income
$4,501
$64,430 vs $59,929/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
41% lower
247.6 vs 423.2 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$377k less
$219,800 vs $597,200
Hampton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 17 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 6 and Hampton wins 17. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $219,800 median home), income ($59,929 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Hampton, VA are about 2,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.