Residential comparison · 13 facts
Downey, CA vs South Gate, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Downey needs about $79,500 in South Gate to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from South Gate, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $90,500 in Downey.
A few differences
- Downey is higher on median household income ($90,699 vs $74,571).
- South Gate is lower on cost of living index (126 vs 141).
- South Gate is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,672/mo vs $2,095/mo).
Downey vs South Gate · facet by facet
| Facet | Downey, CA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $796,600 | $636,300 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,095/mo | $1,672/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 141 | 126 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $90,699 | $74,571 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Downey, CA · South Gate, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Downey cheaper than South Gate?
- South Gate has the lower day-to-day cost index (126 vs 141 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in South Gate equals $85,000 in Downey?
- A household earning $85,000 in Downey needs about $79,500 in South Gate to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of South Gate lifestyle costs about $90,500 in Downey.