Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Stockton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($184,200 vs $382,000)
35% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,417)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $23,303/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
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,303 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) 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 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
35% lower
740.3 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$198k less
$184,200 vs $382,000
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$23,303
$71,612 vs $48,309/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 13 and Stockton wins 9. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $382,000 median home), income ($48,309 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Stockton, CA are about 2,053 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.