Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 San Leandro leads 13 of 22 categories
San Leandro
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Stockton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Stockton
Households earn $25,529 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($382,000 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,997)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $25,529/yr
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Income
$25,529
$97,141 vs $71,612/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
52% lower
548.7 vs 1145.8 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Home Value
$391k less
$382,000 vs $772,700
Stockton
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Leandro leads 13 of 22 categories. San Leandro wins 13 and Stockton wins 9. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $382,000 median home), income ($97,141 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Stockton, CA are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.