Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 17 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $436k less ($293,000 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $850/mo less ($1,214 vs $2,064)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $38,048/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,048 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$436k less
$293,000 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$38,048
$99,413 vs $61,365/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
20% lower
222.4 vs 276.7 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Providence is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 17 of 23 categories. Providence wins 6 and San Marcos wins 17. 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 Providence to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $728,800 median home), income ($61,365 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and San Marcos, CA are about 2,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.