Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 El Monte leads 13 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than San Leandro
Homes cost $176k less ($597,200 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,605 vs $1,997)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $37,212/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.0%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,212 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 86°F
Cons
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
El Monte
Violent Crime
23% lower
423.2 vs 548.7 per 100k
El Monte
Median Home Value
$176k less
$597,200 vs $772,700
El Monte
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$37,212
$97,141 vs $59,929/yr
San Leandro
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
El Monte is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Monte leads 13 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 13 and San Leandro wins 9. 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $772,700 median home), income ($59,929 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and San Leandro, CA are about 341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.