Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 18 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Yuma
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 107°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Median income trails Yuma by $9,411/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Yuma
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 7.7%)
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($186,500 vs $277,200)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,357)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.7%)
Households earn $9,411 more per year on average
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Yuma
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$9,411
$59,312 vs $49,901/yr
Yuma
Median Home Value
$91k less
$186,500 vs $277,200
Yuma
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Yuma
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 95.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 96,314 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 18 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 4 and Yuma wins 18. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $186,500 median home), income ($49,901 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.