Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1312k less ($368,800 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1414/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,990)
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $103,139/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $103,139 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$1312k less
$368,800 vs $1,680,700
Lancaster
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$103,139
$174,506 vs $71,367/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
71% lower
244.5 vs 834.7 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 13.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 7 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($71,367 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.