Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Yonkers
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,659)
Homes cost $33k less ($423,500 vs $456,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yonkers, NY
Pros
21% less violent crime than Sparks
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Sparks
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$4,730
$82,938 vs $78,208/yr
Sparks
Median Home Value
$33k less
$423,500 vs $456,500
Sparks
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.6°F
Yonkers
Violent Crime
21% lower
311.8 vs 394.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $78,208 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 13 and Yonkers wins 10. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $456,500 median home), income ($82,938 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Yonkers, NY are about 2,391 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.