Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 13 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($321,800 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $827/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,054)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $33,218/yr
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
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.7%)
West Covina, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $33,218 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fresno
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$343k less
$321,800 vs $664,500
Fresno
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$33,218
$96,219 vs $63,001/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
67% lower
239.3 vs 735.5 per 100k
West Covina
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 13 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 9 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $664,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and West Covina, CA are about 216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.