Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 15 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
Households earn $4,195 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($243,300 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,605)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 19.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.0%)
Median income trails El Monte by $4,195/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$4,195
$59,929 vs $55,734/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
22% lower
423.2 vs 544.3 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$354k less
$243,300 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 19.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 77.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 15 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Yakima wins 15. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $243,300 median home), income ($59,929 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Yakima, WA are about 875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.