Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clara, CA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 12 of 23 categories
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Yonkers
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,208
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $87,144 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Yonkers
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 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
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Homes cost $984k less ($456,500 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1182/mo less ($1,659 vs $2,841)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $87,144/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clara
Median Income
$87,144
$165,352 vs $78,208/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
42% lower
182.0 vs 311.8 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.9 on the COL index
Yonkers
Median Home Value
$984k less
$456,500 vs $1,440,200
Yonkers
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 80.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,440,200⚠ High | $456,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,841⚠ High | $1,659⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $165,352 ✓ Higher | $78,208 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.9% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Clara Unified | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.8°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.6" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 128,058 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clara's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Yonkers is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 12 of 23 categories. Santa Clara wins 11 and Yonkers wins 12. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,440,200 vs $456,500 median home), income ($165,352 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clara, CA and Yonkers, NY are about 2,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.