Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Livonia leads 16 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Sparks
Nevada
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($249,000 vs $423,500)
42% less violent crime than Sparks
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Livonia by $9,520/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Median Income
$9,520
$92,458 vs $82,938/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
42% lower
228.1 vs 394.4 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$175k less
$249,000 vs $423,500
Livonia
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 16 of 23 categories. Livonia wins 16 and Sparks 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 Livonia to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $423,500 median home), income ($92,458 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Sparks, NV are about 1,891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.