Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 20 categories
Los Angeles
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,148)
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $26k less ($822,600 vs $848,200)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $33,091/yr
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Households earn $33,091 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Home Value
$26k less
$822,600 vs $848,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Orange
Median Income
$33,091
$109,335 vs $76,244/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
69% lower
226.1 vs 728.5 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Orange
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 20 categories. Los Angeles wins 5 and Orange 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 Los Angeles to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $848,200 median home), income ($76,244 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Orange, CA are about 35 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.