Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Redding
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $41,945 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Redding
Redding, CA
Pros
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Homes cost $51k less ($343,000 vs $393,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $41,945/yr
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$41,945
$109,268 vs $67,323/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Home Value
$51k less
$343,000 vs $393,700
Redding
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 93,327 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Redding leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 and Redding 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 Germantown to Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $343,000 median home), income ($109,268 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Redding, CA are about 2,367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.