Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orange, CA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Orange leads 17 of 22 categories
Orange
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
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 San Leandro
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,194 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($772,700 vs $848,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 83°F
Rent averages $151/mo less ($1,997 vs $2,148)
Smaller class sizes — 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Orange by $12,194/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Orange
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Orange
Median Income
$12,194
$109,335 vs $97,141/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
59% lower
226.1 vs 548.7 per 100k
Orange
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Home Value
$76k less
$772,700 vs $848,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orange, CA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $848,200⚠ High | $772,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,148⚠ High | $1,997⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,335 ✓ Higher | $97,141 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Orange Unified | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 138,728 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Orange is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orange leads 17 of 22 categories. Orange wins 17 and San Leandro wins 5. 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($848,200 vs $772,700 median home), income ($109,335 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orange, CA and San Leandro, CA are about 362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.