Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Yonkers
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($368,800 vs $456,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $83/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,659)
Cons
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 6.6%)
Median income trails Yonkers by $6,841/yr
Yonkers, NY
Pros
63% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,841 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$88k less
$368,800 vs $456,500
Lancaster
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.6°F
Yonkers
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yonkers
Median Income
$6,841
$78,208 vs $71,367/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
63% lower
311.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Yonkers is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 14 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 9 and Yonkers wins 14. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $456,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Yonkers, NY are about 2,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.