Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clara, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 13 of 22 categories
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,133 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than West Covina
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Covina, CA
Pros
Homes cost $776k less ($664,500 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $787/mo less ($2,054 vs $2,841)
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $69,133/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clara
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Clara
Median Income
$69,133
$165,352 vs $96,219/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
24% lower
182.0 vs 239.3 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Home Value
$776k less
$664,500 vs $1,440,200
West Covina
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 80.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,440,200⚠ High | $664,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,841⚠ High | $2,054⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $165,352 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Clara Unified | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.8°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.6" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 128,058 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clara's cost of living index is 112.9 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Clara is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 22 categories. Santa Clara wins 13 and West Covina 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 Santa Clara to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,440,200 vs $664,500 median home), income ($165,352 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clara, CA and West Covina, CA are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.