Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($321,800 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $507/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,734)
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $19,771/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
75% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $19,771 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$484k less
$321,800 vs $805,500
Fresno
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$19,771
$82,772 vs $63,001/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
75% lower
185.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 85 ✓ 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 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 348,547 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 10 and Urban Honolulu wins 12. 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $805,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 2,513 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.