Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Diego, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 22 categories
San Diego
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
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 Diego, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $15,719 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($423,500 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $554/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,080)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $15,719/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Diego
Median Income
$15,719
$98,657 vs $82,938/yr
Sparks
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
4% lower
394.4 vs 412.2 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$360k less
$423,500 vs $783,300
Sparks
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $783,300⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,080⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,657 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.7% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Diego Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Diego's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 22 categories. San Diego wins 10 and Sparks wins 12. 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 Diego to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($783,300 vs $423,500 median home), income ($98,657 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Diego, CA and Sparks, NV are about 489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.