Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 22 categories
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($397,500 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,625 vs $2,162)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $33,303/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 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Palmdale
Households earn $33,303 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$220k less
$397,500 vs $617,300
Palmdale
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.2°F
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$33,303
$111,717 vs $78,414/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
45% lower
301.4 vs 551.0 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | C- (71) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 22 categories. Palmdale wins 10 and Tracy wins 12. 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 Palmdale to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($78,414 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Tracy, CA are about 286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.