City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Stockton and Toledo. Stockton averages 71°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,577 versus $934.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Stockton pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Stockton and Toledo are 2,003 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $934 a month in Toledo, down $643 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $62,224 in Toledo, down $17,683 (22%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 221 in Toledo, down 12 points (5%).
The move
Toledo and Stockton are 2,003 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $643 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $79,907 in Stockton, up $17,683 (28%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 233 in Stockton, up 12 points (5%).
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Stockton and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Toledo rent is 41% cheaper than Stockton
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Toledo is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $643/month back in your pocket ($7,716/year). Over five years that's $38,580 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Stockton, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Stockton's median income is 28% higher than Toledo
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Stockton (about $17,683 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
5% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 5% lower than Stockton
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Toledo. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Toledo, 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
64% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Stockton scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 28% higher ($79,907), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Stockton (221 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Toledo at $934/month versus $1,577 in Stockton ($643 apart). Stockton median income is $79,907 against $62,224 in Toledo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Stockton's $1,577, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Toledo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Stockton deserves a serious look only when your $79,907 income offer in Stockton outweighs saving $643/month in Toledo.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Stockton and Toledo, plus other cities in CA and OH.
