Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lubbock
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($181,600 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,860)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $32,525/yr
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,525 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Lubbock
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lubbock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$412k less
$181,600 vs $593,100
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$32,525
$91,259 vs $58,734/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
54% lower
374.4 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lubbock wins 11 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Lubbock to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $593,100 median home), income ($58,734 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Norwalk, CA are about 930 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.