Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 14 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Visalia by $12,657/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $12,657 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 93.8°F
Visalia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Income
$12,657
$75,658 vs $63,001/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
41% lower
435.3 vs 735.5 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 8 and Visalia wins 14. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $316,600 median home), income ($63,001 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Visalia, CA are about 41 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.