Chula Vista CA vs Stockton CA — 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%

Stockton, CA

California · Population: 320,470

  • Median HH Income$76,851
  • Median Home Price$431,297
  • Unemployment8.0%
  • Bachelor's+19.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Chula Vista
8,933
Stockton
320,470
Stockton +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chula Vista
N/A
Stockton
N/A
Median Age
Chula Vista
42.9
Stockton
33.7
Stockton +
Foreign Born
Chula Vista
20.0%
Stockton
25.9%
Stockton +
White
Chula Vista
65.7%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
26.6%
Black
Chula Vista
0.7%
Stockton
11.6%
Stockton +
Asian
Chula Vista
0.7%
Stockton
21.1%
Stockton +
Hispanic
Chula Vista
36.5%
Stockton
45.2%
Stockton +
Spanish at Home
Chula Vista
N/A
Stockton
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chula Vista
$104,238
Chula Vista +
Stockton
$76,851
Per Capita Income
Chula Vista
$49,562
Chula Vista +
Stockton
$31,279
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chula Vista
$77,230
Stockton
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Chula Vista
2.2%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
8.0%
Poverty Rate
Chula Vista
4.5%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
15.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chula Vista
26.9%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
19.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chula Vista
$849,245
Stockton
$431,297
Stockton +
Homeownership Rate
Chula Vista
71.4%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
53.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
503
Stockton
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
2388
Stockton
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
26.6%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
31.8%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
11.4%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
13.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chula Vista
16.0%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
18.1%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
12.4%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
15.0%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
15.7%
Stockton
13.3%
Stockton +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
9.6%
Chula Vista +
Stockton
13.8%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
63.5°F
Stockton
62.2°F
Stockton +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
9.8 in
Chula Vista +
Stockton
17.8 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
7.9 µg/m³
Stockton
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Chula Vista
75.0%
Stockton
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chula Vista
26.9 min
Chula Vista +
Stockton
33.2 min

Which City is Right for You?

Chula Vista leads in median household income at $104,238, while stockton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $431,297. On public safety, Stockton is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Chula Vista. Chula Vista has a lower unemployment rate at 2.2%, and Stockton 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 & Stockton