Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($184,200 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,553)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $32,441/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,441 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$234k less
$184,200 vs $418,300
Knoxville
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$32,441
$80,750 vs $48,309/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
13% lower
641.7 vs 740.3 per 100k
Rialto
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 12 and Rialto wins 10. 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 Knoxville to Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $418,300 median home), income ($48,309 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Rialto, CA are about 1,887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.