Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Hesperia
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($337,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $917/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $80,529/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $80,529 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$300k less
$337,600 vs $637,400
Hesperia
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$80,529
$148,227 vs $67,698/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
73% lower
138.1 vs 519.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Hesperia wins 7 and Highlands Ranch wins 16. 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 Hesperia to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $637,400 median home), income ($67,698 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.