City comparison
San Antonio is safer than Stockton. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
The income gap between San Antonio and Stockton is significant: $65,056 median household versus $79,907. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and safety and Stockton wins on the job market. 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. San Antonio at $1,324 average has pockets that run $1,124 and others at $1,724: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and Stockton are 1,432 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $253 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $79,907 in Stockton, up $14,851 (23%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 233 in Stockton, up 21 points (10%).
The move
Stockton and San Antonio are 1,432 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $253 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $14,851 (19%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 212 in San Antonio, down 21 points (9%).
San Antonio, TX
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 San Antonio and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 16% cheaper than Stockton
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,577 in Stockton, so San Antonio is 16% 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 $3,036, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. San Antonio still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Stockton.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Stockton's median income is 23% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Stockton (about $14,851 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Stockton is the stronger labor market on paper. San Antonio can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 9% lower than Stockton
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in San Antonio. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in San Antonio, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Stockton. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Antonio and Stockton are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 74°F (82°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (84°F highs). San Antonio sits near 74°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
San Antonio is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Stockton (212 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($79,907). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
San Antonio is cheaper on rent ($1,324/month vs $1,577), but Stockton's $79,907 median income beats San Antonio's $65,056 by 19%. Remote workers paid on Stockton scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Stockton still pays more locally ($79,907 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Stockton rates.
Safety scores read 37/100 in San Antonio and 34/100 in Stockton.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Stockton; San Antonio only makes sense when $1,324/month housing savings outweigh $79,907 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for San Antonio when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Stockton, plus other cities in TX and CA.
