Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orange, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
Orange
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($2,148 vs $2,402)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Simi Valley by $2,809/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Simi Valley
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Orange
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $144k less ($704,200 vs $848,200)
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,809 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Simi Valley
Median Income
$2,809
$112,144 vs $109,335/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
43% lower
129.1 vs 226.1 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$144k less
$704,200 vs $848,200
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orange, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $848,200⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,148⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,335 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Orange Unified | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 138,728 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.9% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Simi Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. Orange wins 7 and Simi Valley wins 15. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($848,200 vs $704,200 median home), income ($109,335 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orange, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 61 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.