Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 17 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Sparks by $23,009/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($423,500 vs $597,200)
Households earn $23,009 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$23,009
$82,938 vs $59,929/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
7% lower
394.4 vs 423.2 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$174k less
$423,500 vs $597,200
Sparks
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 17 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 6 and Sparks wins 17. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $423,500 median home), income ($59,929 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Sparks, NV are about 391 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.