Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Midland leads 12 of 22 categories
Midland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($280,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,054)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.2%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $5,771/yr
West Covina, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Midland
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Households earn $5,771 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Midland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$384k less
$280,700 vs $664,500
Midland
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$5,771
$96,219 vs $90,448/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
34% lower
239.3 vs 364.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 9.2% ✓ 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 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Midland is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Midland leads 12 of 22 categories. Midland wins 12 and West Covina wins 10. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($90,448 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and West Covina, CA are about 925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.