Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista leads 16 of 22 categories
Inglewood
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,666 vs $2,002)
Cons
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vista by $21,152/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3614.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vista, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Inglewood
Households earn $21,152 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $67k less ($622,900 vs $689,700)
More college-educated — 27.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Vista
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vista
Median Income
$21,152
$88,715 vs $67,563/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
53% lower
316.4 vs 674.6 per 100k
Vista
Median Home Value
$67k less
$622,900 vs $689,700
Vista
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High | $622,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 20.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 82.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 13.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vista leads 16 of 22 categories. Inglewood wins 6 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $622,900 median home), income ($67,563 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Vista, CA are about 83 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.