Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Households earn $2,775 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Portsmouth
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($213,300 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $380/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,605)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails El Monte by $2,775/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$2,775
$59,929 vs $57,154/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
44% lower
423.2 vs 752.4 per 100k
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$384k less
$213,300 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Portsmouth, 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 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 14 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 9 and Portsmouth 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 El Monte to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $213,300 median home), income ($59,929 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.