Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($311,100 vs $664,500)
60% less violent crime than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,622 vs $2,054)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Covina, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Pearland
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$14,904
$111,123 vs $96,219/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
60% lower
95.9 vs 239.3 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$353k less
$311,100 vs $664,500
Pearland
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 17 and West Covina 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 Pearland to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $664,500 median home), income ($111,123 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and West Covina, CA are about 1,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.