Which is better, New York, NY or San Diego, CA?

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 25 of 35 statistics where one end is better, to 10. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, New York, NY or San Diego, CA?

New York, NY has a population of 8,546,038 (1st of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).

How do New York, NY and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: New York, NY $80,483 (tied 163rd of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.

How do New York, NY and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): New York, NY $777,600 (380th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. New York, NY ranks better.

Where does New York, NY beat San Diego, CA most clearly?

New York, NY ranks far ahead on Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 183.0 vs 297.6; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 127.0 vs 174.2; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,821 vs $2,313.

Where does San Diego, CA beat New York, NY most clearly?

San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 90.5%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 23.5 vs 40.3; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.0% vs 17.9%.

New York, NY vs San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 25 of 35 statistics where one end is better, to 10. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

35 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

New York, NY

Wins: 10
Avg. percentile: 35
Categories led: 0

San Diego, CA

Wins: 25
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	New York, NY	San Diego, CA
Population	8,546,038 1st of 477	1,410,522 8th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$80,483 tied 163rd of 434	$108,077 68th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$777,600 380th of 434	$906,700 391st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	17.9% 299th of 434	11.0% 131st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.6 tied 421st of 460	111.9 tied 417th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$86,310 tied 41st of 460	$79,060 tied 54th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,821 331st of 434	$2,313 395th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	656.5 306th of 395	372.3 191st of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetySan Diego, CA · 5 statistics
EconomicsSan Diego, CA · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	New York, NY	San Diego, CA
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	90.5% 260th of 434	95.2% 69th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	40.3 432nd of 434	23.5 244th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	17.9% 299th of 434	11.0% 131st of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	105.8 tied 433rd of 460	99.6 tied 265th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	656.5 306th of 395	372.3 191st of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,272.9 253rd of 395	1,539.0 157th of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$80,483 tied 163rd of 434	$108,077 68th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	183.0 193rd of 395	297.6 275th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	127.0 tied 362nd of 460	174.2 tied 453rd of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	3.3 188th of 395	1.7 119th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,821 331st of 434	$2,313 395th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	41.6% 142nd of 434	51.0% 87th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	148.6 tied 386th of 460	179.3 tied 434th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$61,430 tied 50th of 460	$58,690 tied 70th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	110.3 tied 455th of 460	108.0 tied 437th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$86,310 tied 41st of 460	$79,060 tied 54th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	149.7 129th of 395	145.4 117th of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$777,600 380th of 434	$906,700 391st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.6 tied 421st of 460	111.9 tied 417th of 460

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, New York, NY or San Diego, CA?: San Diego, CA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 25 of 35 statistics where one end is better, to 10. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, New York, NY or San Diego, CA?: New York, NY has a population of 8,546,038 (1st of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).
How do New York, NY and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: New York, NY $80,483 (tied 163rd of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.
How do New York, NY and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): New York, NY $777,600 (380th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. New York, NY ranks better.
Where does New York, NY beat San Diego, CA most clearly?: New York, NY ranks far ahead on Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 183.0 vs 297.6; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 127.0 vs 174.2; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,821 vs $2,313.
Where does San Diego, CA beat New York, NY most clearly?: San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 90.5%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 23.5 vs 40.3; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.0% vs 17.9%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with New York, NY or San Diego, CA.

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