Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 23 categories
New York
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
13
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.
New York, NY
Pros
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,714 vs $2,148)
Homes cost $116k less ($732,100 vs $848,200)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $32,728/yr
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than New York
Households earn $32,728 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than New York
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New York
Median Home Value
$116k less
$732,100 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$32,728
$109,335 vs $76,607/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
66% lower
226.1 vs 671.0 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
New York is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 23 categories. New York wins 10 and Orange wins 13. 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 New York to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $848,200 median home), income ($76,607 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Orange, CA are about 2,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.