Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 16 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,055 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($186,500 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $548/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,576)
49% less violent crime than Lancaster
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $12,055/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$12,055
$71,367 vs $59,312/yr
Yuma
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
49% lower
423.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$182k less
$186,500 vs $368,800
Yuma
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 97.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C- (70) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 16 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 6 and Yuma wins 16. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $186,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.