Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Stockton leads 13 of 22 categories
South Gate
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Stockton
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
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.
South Gate, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Stockton
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($382,000 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 18.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Households earn $4,424 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
South Gate
Violent Crime
54% lower
525.6 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Stockton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Income
$4,424
$71,612 vs $67,188/yr
Stockton
Median Home Value
$197k less
$382,000 vs $578,900
Stockton
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C- (74) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 18.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Stockton leads 13 of 22 categories. South Gate wins 9 and Stockton wins 13. 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 South Gate to Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $382,000 median home), income ($67,188 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Stockton, CA are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.