Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Victorville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
61% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Households earn $17,192 more per year on average
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($300,600 vs $423,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sparks by $17,192/yr
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 6.1%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$17,192
$82,938 vs $65,746/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
61% lower
394.4 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Home Value
$123k less
$300,600 vs $423,500
Victorville
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 134,417 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 12 and Victorville wins 11. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $300,600 median home), income ($82,938 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Victorville, CA are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.