Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Hampton leads 18 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($219,800 vs $578,900)
53% less violent crime than South Gate
18% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.5%)
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails South Gate by $2,758/yr
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Households earn $2,758 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
Violent Crime
53% lower
247.6 vs 525.6 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$359k less
$219,800 vs $578,900
Hampton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Hampton
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$2,758
$67,188 vs $64,430/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 18 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 18 and South Gate wins 5. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($64,430 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and South Gate, CA are about 2,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.