Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Hemet leads 12 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($277,200 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,860)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $41,358/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,358 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.6%)
12% less violent crime than Hemet
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/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
$316k less
$277,200 vs $593,100
Hemet
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$41,358
$91,259 vs $49,901/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
12% lower
374.4 vs 424.8 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hemet leads 12 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 12 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $593,100 median home), income ($49,901 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Norwalk, CA are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.