Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 17 of 23 categories
New York
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $9,284 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
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)
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($343,000 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 25 min shorter each way
Rent averages $436/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,714)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $9,284/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$9,284
$76,607 vs $67,323/yr
Redding
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Violent Crime
3% lower
647.8 vs 671.0 per 100k
Redding
Median Home Value
$389k less
$343,000 vs $732,100
Redding
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 17 of 23 categories. New York wins 6 and Redding wins 17. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $343,000 median home), income ($76,607 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Redding, CA are about 2,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.