Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 San Antonio leads 13 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($198,000 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,526)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $23,345/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sparks, NV
Pros
34% less violent crime than San Antonio
Households earn $23,345 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than San Antonio
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$226k less
$198,000 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$23,345
$82,938 vs $59,593/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
34% lower
394.4 vs 594.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 13 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 13 and Sparks wins 10. 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 San Antonio to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $423,500 median home), income ($59,593 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Sparks, NV are about 1,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.