Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Evansville leads 12 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Stockton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($121,100 vs $382,000)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($917 vs $1,417)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.7%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $21,759/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,759 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Evansville
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$261k less
$121,100 vs $382,000
Evansville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$21,759
$71,612 vs $49,853/yr
Stockton
Violent Crime
5% lower
1145.8 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Stockton
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 302⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Evansville leads 12 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 12 and Stockton wins 11. 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 Evansville to Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $382,000 median home), income ($49,853 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Stockton, CA are about 1,829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.