Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525 ✓ 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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($411,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,452 vs $2,054)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $26,782/yr
West Covina, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Gresham
Households earn $26,782 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°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)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Median Home Value
$253k less
$411,700 vs $664,500
Gresham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$26,782
$96,219 vs $69,437/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
42% lower
239.3 vs 410.2 per 100k
West Covina
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 10 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 Gresham to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($69,437 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and West Covina, CA are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.