Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 14 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Santa Clara
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Homes cost $843k less ($597,200 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1236/mo less ($1,605 vs $2,841)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $105,423/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $105,423 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than El Monte
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Home Value
$843k less
$597,200 vs $1,440,200
El Monte
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Clara
Median Income
$105,423
$165,352 vs $59,929/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
57% lower
182.0 vs 423.2 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 41.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Santa Clara is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($59,929 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Santa Clara, CA are about 317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.