Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke 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
Roanoke
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $8,406 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $435k less ($162,000 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $688/mo less ($917 vs $1,605)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Monte by $8,406/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$8,406
$59,929 vs $51,523/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
32% lower
423.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Roanoke
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$435k less
$162,000 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 14 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 9 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $162,000 median home), income ($59,929 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Roanoke, VA are about 2,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.