Head-to-Head · City Comparison
League City, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 League City leads 15 of 22 categories
League City
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$117,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
113,469 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
League City, TX
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($312,500 vs $728,800)
53% less violent crime than San Marcos
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,598 vs $2,064)
Violent crime is well below the national average (103.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,903 more per year on average
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 64°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Median income trails League City by $17,903/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
League City
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
League City
Median Income
$17,903
$117,316 vs $99,413/yr
League City
Violent Crime
53% lower
103.5 vs 222.4 per 100k
League City
Median Home Value
$416k less
$312,500 vs $728,800
League City
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | League City, TX | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,598⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $117,316 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CLEAR CREEK ISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.4" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,469 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
League City's cost of living index is 100.2 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
League City is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, League City leads 15 of 22 categories. League City wins 15 and San Marcos wins 7. 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 League City to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,500 vs $728,800 median home), income ($117,316 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
League City, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.