Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 15 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($423,500 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,734)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
53% less violent crime than Sparks
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sparks
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Home Value
$382k less
$423,500 vs $805,500
Sparks
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
53% lower
185.2 vs 394.4 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $82,772 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 15 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 8 and Urban Honolulu wins 15. 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 Sparks to Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $805,500 median home), income ($82,938 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 2,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.