Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
Huntington Beach
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Paradise
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $59,523 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Paradise
Paradise, NV
Pros
Homes cost $643k less ($333,800 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1126/mo less ($1,192 vs $2,318)
55% less violent crime than Huntington Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $59,523/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$59,523
$114,747 vs $55,224/yr
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Paradise
Violent Crime
55% lower
94.1 vs 207.3 per 100k
Paradise
Median Home Value
$643k less
$333,800 vs $976,800
Paradise
Summer Heat
25.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $333,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $1,192 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 23.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 ✓ Larger | 189,733 |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | 18.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Paradise is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Huntington Beach wins 12 and Paradise wins 11. 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 Huntington Beach to Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $333,800 median home), income ($114,747 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and Paradise, NV are about 232 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.