Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Hampton leads 13 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Hemet
Households earn $14,529 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Homes cost $57k less ($219,800 vs $277,200)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $14,529/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Hampton
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.5%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Income
$14,529
$64,430 vs $49,901/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
42% lower
247.6 vs 424.8 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$57k less
$219,800 vs $277,200
Hampton
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $277,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 13 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 13 and Hemet wins 10. 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 Hampton to Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $277,200 median home), income ($64,430 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Hemet, CA are about 2,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.