City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Stockton split most clearly. Los Angeles scores 75 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and safety and Stockton wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Stockton at $1,577 average has pockets that run $1,377 and others at $1,977: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Stockton are 319 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $356 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $79,907 in Stockton, down $2,032 (2%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 233 in Stockton, up 75 points (47%).
The move
Stockton and Los Angeles are 319 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $356 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $2,032 (3%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 158 in Los Angeles, down 75 points (32%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Stockton rent is 18% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Stockton is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,272, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Los Angeles.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 3% higher than Stockton
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Los Angeles (about $2,032 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 32% lower than Stockton
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Los Angeles. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Los Angeles is the easier city. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Stockton (158 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Stockton
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Stockton carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 46/100 in Los Angeles). That 12-point spread matters more than the $356 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $79,907), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $79,907 in Stockton.
If safety drives your move, Los Angeles is the stronger match (46/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Stockton, plus other cities in CA.
