Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy 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 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Rent averages $557/mo less ($1,605 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $20k less ($597,200 vs $617,300)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $51,788/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,788 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Home Value
$20k less
$597,200 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$51,788
$111,717 vs $59,929/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
29% lower
301.4 vs 423.2 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C- (71) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $617,300 median home), income ($59,929 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Tracy, CA are about 317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.