Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 13 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
97,542 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $488k less ($396,100 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $911/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,622)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $39,263/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Goodyear
Households earn $39,263 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$488k less
$396,100 vs $883,600
Goodyear
Summer Heat
27.9°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$39,263
$136,570 vs $97,307/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
46% lower
99.2 vs 182.2 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 13 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 9 and Mission Viejo 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 Goodyear to Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $883,600 median home), income ($97,307 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Mission Viejo, CA are about 306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.