Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Hemet leads 12 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Knoxville
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($184,200 vs $277,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Median Income
$1,592
$49,901 vs $48,309/yr
Hemet
Violent Crime
43% lower
424.8 vs 740.3 per 100k
Hemet
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$93k less
$184,200 vs $277,200
Knoxville
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hemet leads 12 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 12 and Knoxville 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 Hemet to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $184,200 median home), income ($49,901 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Knoxville, TN are about 1,871 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.