Downey vs Napa
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $796,600 in Downey and $856,400 in Napa.
- Households earn more in Napa ($105,963 vs $90,699 median).
- Downey has the warmer winter: January highs of 67°F vs 59°F.
- Napa has more scorching days: 32 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 6.
- Commutes are shorter in Napa (24 vs 31 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Downey, CA | Napa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 108,468 | 76,562 |
| Growth since 2020 | -5.1% | -3.5% |
| People per square mile | 8,741 | 4,241 |
| Median age | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26% | 38% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $90,699 | $105,963 |
| Median home value | $796,600 | $856,400 |
| Home value to income | 8.8× | 8.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,937 | $2,282 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 112.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 197.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $84,400 |
| Homeowners | 51% | 59% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 31.0 | 23.9 |
| Work from home | 9% | 14% |
| Take public transit | 3% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.8% | 5.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9% | 8.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 67° / 47° | 59° / 40° |
| July high / low | 77° / 62° | 83° / 56° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 27 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 6 | 32 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 12 |
| Comfortable months | 12 | 9 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 95.3 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | n/a |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | -1.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +17.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Downey: January to December. Napa: March to November.
Full monthly tables: Downey weather by month and Napa weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in Downey and $84,400 in Napa. Moving from Downey to Napa, you would need about $74,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Downey and Napa
180people moved from Los Angeles County, CA to Napa County, CA in a year
132moved the other way
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Downey and Napa.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.