Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Goodyear leads 18 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Vista
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($396,100 vs $622,900)
42% less violent crime than Vista
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Vista, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$8,592
$97,307 vs $88,715/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
42% lower
182.2 vs 316.4 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$227k less
$396,100 vs $622,900
Goodyear
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
28.5°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 13.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 18 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 18 and Vista wins 4. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $622,900 median home), income ($97,307 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Vista, CA are about 282 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.