Chula Vista CA vs Grand Prairie TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Chula Vista, CA

California · Population: 8,933

  • Median HH Income$104,238
  • Median Home Price$849,245
  • Unemployment2.2%
  • Bachelor's+26.9%

Grand Prairie, TX

Texas · Population: 198,564

  • Median HH Income$78,889
  • Median Home Price$318,759
  • Unemployment5.1%
  • Bachelor's+29.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Chula Vista
8,933
Grand Prairie
198,564
Grand Prairie +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chula Vista
N/A
Grand Prairie
N/A
Median Age
Chula Vista
42.9
Grand Prairie
33.5
Grand Prairie +
Foreign Born
Chula Vista
20.0%
Grand Prairie
23.7%
Grand Prairie +
White
Chula Vista
65.7%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
32.9%
Black
Chula Vista
0.7%
Grand Prairie
24.6%
Grand Prairie +
Asian
Chula Vista
0.7%
Grand Prairie
6.5%
Grand Prairie +
Hispanic
Chula Vista
36.5%
Grand Prairie
47.2%
Grand Prairie +
Spanish at Home
Chula Vista
N/A
Grand Prairie
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chula Vista
$104,238
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
$78,889
Per Capita Income
Chula Vista
$49,562
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
$34,348
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chula Vista
$77,230
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Chula Vista
2.2%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
5.1%
Poverty Rate
Chula Vista
4.5%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
12.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chula Vista
26.9%
Grand Prairie
29.0%
Grand Prairie +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chula Vista
$849,245
Grand Prairie
$318,759
Grand Prairie +
Homeownership Rate
Chula Vista
71.4%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
57.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
503
Grand Prairie
442
Grand Prairie +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
2388
Grand Prairie
2339
Grand Prairie +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
26.6%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
35.8%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
11.4%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
12.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chula Vista
16.0%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
17.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
12.4%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
22.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
15.7%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
9.6%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
12.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
63.5°F
Grand Prairie
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
9.8 in
Grand Prairie
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
7.9 µg/m³
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Chula Vista
75.0%
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chula Vista
26.9 min
Chula Vista +
Grand Prairie
30.5 min

Which City is Right for You?

Chula Vista leads in median household income at $104,238, while grand Prairie offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $318,759. On public safety, Grand Prairie is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Chula Vista. Chula Vista has a lower unemployment rate at 2.2%, and Chula Vista has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Chula Vista scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Chula Vista & Grand Prairie