Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($280,700 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $762/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 24 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $21,269/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Midland
Households earn $21,269 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Midland
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$337k less
$280,700 vs $617,300
Midland
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$21,269
$111,717 vs $90,448/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
17% lower
301.4 vs 364.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Midland is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 and Tracy wins 9. 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 Midland to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($90,448 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Tracy, CA are about 1,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.