Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Paradise leads 18 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Paradise
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (7.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Households earn $4,705 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Paradise
Paradise, NV
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($333,800 vs $597,200)
78% less violent crime than El Monte
Rent averages $413/mo less ($1,192 vs $1,605)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 7.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Median income trails El Monte by $4,705/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$4,705
$59,929 vs $55,224/yr
El Monte
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Paradise
Violent Crime
78% lower
94.1 vs 423.2 per 100k
Paradise
Median Home Value
$263k less
$333,800 vs $597,200
Paradise
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $333,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,192 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 23.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 189,733 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 39.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Paradise is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Paradise leads 18 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 5 and Paradise 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 Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $333,800 median home), income ($59,929 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Paradise, NV are about 215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.