Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 11 of 21 categories
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($368,800 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,860)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $19,892/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $19,892 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$224k less
$368,800 vs $593,100
Lancaster
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Norwalk
Median Income
$19,892
$91,259 vs $71,367/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
55% lower
374.4 vs 834.7 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 11 of 21 categories. Lancaster wins 10 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Lancaster to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $593,100 median home), income ($71,367 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Norwalk, CA are about 55 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.