Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Tan Valley, AZ
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories
San Tan Valley
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Stockton
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
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 Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $78k less ($304,000 vs $382,000)
Households earn $16,854 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Stockton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $312/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $16,854/yr
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$16,854
$88,466 vs $71,612/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
79% lower
235.7 vs 1145.8 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$78k less
$304,000 vs $382,000
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 94.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Tan Valley, AZ | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,000 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,729⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,466 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.2 min⚠ High | 32.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.3% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,207 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.4% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Tan Valley's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories. San Tan Valley wins 18 and Stockton wins 4. 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 Tan Valley to Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,000 vs $382,000 median home), income ($88,466 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Tan Valley, AZ and Stockton, CA are about 640 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.