Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528
San Antonio
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $3,408 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($198,000 vs $321,800)
19% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.9%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fresno by $3,408/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$3,408
$63,001 vs $59,593/yr
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.0°F
San Antonio
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
19% lower
594.1 vs 735.5 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$124k less
$198,000 vs $321,800
San Antonio
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 8 and San Antonio 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 Fresno to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $198,000 median home), income ($63,001 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.