Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 O'Fallon leads 16 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Orange
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Homes cost $565k less ($283,600 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $837/mo less ($1,311 vs $2,148)
74% less violent crime than Orange
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $4,472/yr
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Households earn $4,472 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than O'Fallon
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
74% lower
59.0 vs 226.1 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$565k less
$283,600 vs $848,200
O'Fallon
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
O'Fallon
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$4,472
$109,335 vs $104,863/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 16 of 23 categories. O'Fallon wins 16 and Orange wins 7. 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 O'Fallon to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $848,200 median home), income ($104,863 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and Orange, CA are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.