Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 22 categories
Hesperia
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Norwalk
California
13
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($337,600 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,860)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $23,561/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Norwalk, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $23,561 more per year on average
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°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 Hesperia
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$256k less
$337,600 vs $593,100
Hesperia
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$23,561
$91,259 vs $67,698/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
28% lower
374.4 vs 519.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 22 categories. Hesperia wins 9 and Norwalk wins 13. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $593,100 median home), income ($67,698 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Norwalk, CA are about 55 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.