Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Palmdale leads 14 of 22 categories
Palmdale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (7.4%)
Households earn $12,668 more per year on average
More college-educated — 16.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($300,600 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,625)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palmdale by $12,668/yr
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 7.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$12,668
$78,414 vs $65,746/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
46% lower
551.0 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Palmdale
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
7.4% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Victorville
Median Home Value
$97k less
$300,600 vs $397,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 40.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 77.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 97.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 33.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 59.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Victorville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palmdale leads 14 of 22 categories. Palmdale wins 14 and Victorville 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 Palmdale to Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $300,600 median home), income ($78,414 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Victorville, CA are about 43 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.