Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528
New York
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($321,800 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $13,606/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.6%)
New York, NY
Pros
9% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $13,606 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.6%)
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$410k less
$321,800 vs $732,100
Fresno
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$13,606
$76,607 vs $63,001/yr
New York
Violent Crime
9% lower
671.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
New York
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 13 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 10 and New York wins 13. 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 Fresno to New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $732,100 median home), income ($63,001 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and New York, NY are about 2,458 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.