Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 O'Fallon leads 17 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
San Marcos
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Homes cost $445k less ($283,600 vs $728,800)
73% less violent crime than San Marcos
Rent averages $753/mo less ($1,311 vs $2,064)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.1%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than O'Fallon
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$5,450
$104,863 vs $99,413/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
73% lower
59.0 vs 222.4 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$445k less
$283,600 vs $728,800
O'Fallon
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 31 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 | 94,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 17 of 23 categories. O'Fallon wins 17 and San Marcos wins 6. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $728,800 median home), income ($104,863 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and San Marcos, CA are about 1,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.