Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 14 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Santa Clara
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $1029k less ($411,700 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1389/mo less ($1,452 vs $2,841)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $95,915/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,915 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Gresham
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Median Home Value
$1029k less
$411,700 vs $1,440,200
Santa Clara
Median Income
$95,915
$165,352 vs $69,437/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
56% lower
182.0 vs 410.2 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 14 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 9 and Santa Clara 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 Gresham to Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($69,437 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Santa Clara, CA are about 563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.