Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories
Mission Viejo
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26
Population
93,233 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,707 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than O'Fallon
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Homes cost $600k less ($283,600 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1311/mo less ($1,311 vs $2,622)
41% less violent crime than Mission Viejo
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $31,707/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$31,707
$136,570 vs $104,863/yr
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
41% lower
59.0 vs 99.2 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$600k less
$283,600 vs $883,600
O'Fallon
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.4% unemployment
O'Fallon
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 79.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, CA | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,600⚠ High | $283,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $1,311 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $104,863 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 38.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo's cost of living index is 115.5 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories. Mission Viejo wins 9 and O'Fallon wins 14. 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 Mission Viejo to O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $283,600 median home), income ($136,570 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and O'Fallon, MO are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.