Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 12 of 22 categories
Indio
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Yuma
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Yuma
Households earn $9,124 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher rents — median is $1,344/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Yuma
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($186,500 vs $373,200)
Rent averages $316/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,344)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Indio by $9,124/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Median Income
$9,124
$68,436 vs $59,312/yr
Indio
Violent Crime
21% lower
336.2 vs 423.6 per 100k
Yuma
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$187k less
$186,500 vs $373,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 3.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 96,314 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 64.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 12 of 22 categories. Indio wins 10 and Yuma wins 12. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $186,500 median home), income ($68,436 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 130 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.