Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,100 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Longer commutes — 28.4 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $379k less ($324,800 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $788/mo less ($1,614 vs $2,402)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $48,100/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Income
$48,100
$112,144 vs $64,044/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
78% lower
129.1 vs 575.8 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$379k less
$324,800 vs $704,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $704,200⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 40.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley's cost of living index is 113.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Simi Valley wins 13 and West Palm Beach 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 Simi Valley to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($112,144 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.