Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orange, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 21 categories
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
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orange, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Palmdale
Households earn $30,921 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($397,500 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $523/mo less ($1,625 vs $2,148)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $30,921/yr
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orange
Median Income
$30,921
$109,335 vs $78,414/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
59% lower
226.1 vs 551.0 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$451k less
$397,500 vs $848,200
Palmdale
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orange, CA | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $848,200⚠ High | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,148⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,335 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Orange Unified | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 138,728 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.9% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 21 categories. Orange wins 13 and Palmdale 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 Orange to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($848,200 vs $397,500 median home), income ($109,335 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orange, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 57 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.