Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rialto, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories
Rialto
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rialto, CA
Pros
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,729)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $7,716/yr
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
63% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $114k less ($304,000 vs $418,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,716 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$7,716
$88,466 vs $80,750/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
63% lower
235.7 vs 641.7 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$114k less
$304,000 vs $418,300
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rialto, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $418,300⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,750 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rialto Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,873 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rialto's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories. Rialto wins 4 and San Tan Valley wins 18. 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 Rialto to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($418,300 vs $304,000 median home), income ($80,750 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rialto, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.