Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
El Monte
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (7.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Rialto by $20,821/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rialto
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($418,300 vs $597,200)
Households earn $20,821 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.0%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Violent Crime
34% lower
423.2 vs 641.7 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
7.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Income
$20,821
$80,750 vs $59,929/yr
Rialto
Median Home Value
$179k less
$418,300 vs $597,200
Rialto
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. El Monte wins 11 and Rialto wins 11. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $418,300 median home), income ($59,929 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Rialto, CA are about 37 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.