Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Indio leads 12 of 23 categories
Indio
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Portsmouth
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $11,282 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Portsmouth
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 6.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,344/mo
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($213,300 vs $373,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.6%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,344)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Indio by $11,282/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Median Income
$11,282
$68,436 vs $57,154/yr
Indio
Violent Crime
55% lower
336.2 vs 752.4 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$160k less
$213,300 vs $373,200
Portsmouth
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 97,384 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indio leads 12 of 23 categories. Indio wins 12 and Portsmouth 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 Indio to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $213,300 median home), income ($68,436 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,243 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.