Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $606k less ($277,200 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1265/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,622)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $86,669/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,669 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hemet
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$606k less
$277,200 vs $883,600
Hemet
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$86,669
$136,570 vs $49,901/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
77% lower
99.2 vs 424.8 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 93,233 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 22.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 8 and Mission Viejo wins 14. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $883,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.