Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $509k less ($219,800 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $809/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,064)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $34,983/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,983 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Hampton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Hampton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Home Value
$509k less
$219,800 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$34,983
$99,413 vs $64,430/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
10% lower
222.4 vs 247.6 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 11 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $728,800 median home), income ($64,430 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and San Marcos, CA are about 2,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.