Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 16 of 21 categories
Inglewood
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Rent averages $956/mo less ($1,666 vs $2,622)
Homes cost $194k less ($689,700 vs $883,600)
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $69,007/yr
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3614.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,007 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Inglewood
Median Home Value
$194k less
$689,700 vs $883,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$69,007
$136,570 vs $67,563/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
85% lower
99.2 vs 674.6 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 79.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 16 of 21 categories. Inglewood wins 5 and Mission Viejo wins 16. 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 Inglewood to Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $883,600 median home), income ($67,563 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.