Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Marcos, CA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 San Marcos leads 15 of 23 categories
San Marcos
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Toledo
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,008 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Toledo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $630k less ($98,800 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1210/mo less ($854 vs $2,064)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $54,008/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Marcos
Median Income
$54,008
$99,413 vs $45,405/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
79% lower
222.4 vs 1041.1 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$630k less
$98,800 vs $728,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Marcos, CA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $728,800⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,064⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,413 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.5:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.5% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Marcos Unified | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,360 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Marcos's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 15 of 23 categories. San Marcos wins 15 and Toledo wins 8. 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 Marcos to Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($728,800 vs $98,800 median home), income ($99,413 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Marcos, CA and Toledo, OH are about 1,922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.