Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories
San Leandro
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,203 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($423,500 vs $772,700)
28% less violent crime than San Leandro
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,997)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $14,203/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Income
$14,203
$97,141 vs $82,938/yr
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
28% lower
394.4 vs 548.7 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$349k less
$423,500 vs $772,700
Sparks
Summer Heat
20.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. San Leandro wins 9 and Sparks wins 14. 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 Leandro to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $423,500 median home), income ($97,141 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Sparks, NV are about 185 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.