Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntington Beach, CA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 14 of 23 categories
Huntington Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,414 more per year on average
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 102°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than St. George
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
St. George, UT
Pros
Homes cost $562k less ($415,200 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $983/mo less ($1,335 vs $2,318)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $45,414/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$45,414
$114,747 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Median Home Value
$562k less
$415,200 vs $976,800
St. George
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $976,800⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,318⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,747 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 71 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.4:1 | 23.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntington Beach City Elementary | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,481 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 43.3 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntington Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 14 of 23 categories. Huntington Beach wins 9 and St. George wins 14. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($976,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($114,747 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntington Beach, CA and St. George, UT are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.