Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 12 of 22 categories
Hampton
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
137,217
Orange
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $628k less ($219,800 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $893/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,148)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $44,905/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,905 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Hampton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Home Value
$628k less
$219,800 vs $848,200
Hampton
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$44,905
$109,335 vs $64,430/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
9% lower
226.1 vs 247.6 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orange leads 12 of 22 categories. Hampton wins 10 and Orange wins 12. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($64,430 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Orange, CA are about 2,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.