Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 14 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Rialto
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $10,509 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rialto
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($418,300 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,860)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $10,509/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$10,509
$91,259 vs $80,750/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
42% lower
374.4 vs 641.7 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Home Value
$175k less
$418,300 vs $593,100
Rialto
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $80,750 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 14 of 22 categories. Norwalk wins 14 and Rialto wins 8. 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 Norwalk to Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $418,300 median home), income ($91,259 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Rialto, CA are about 42 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.