Simi Valley vs Tracy

The short version

  • Tracy is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 5% lower than in the Simi Valley area (BEA 2024).
  • The median home costs $699,000 in Tracy and $823,800 in Simi Valley.
  • Simi Valley has the warmer winter: January highs of 70°F vs 56°F.
  • Simi Valley has more scorching days: 115 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 82.
  • Tracy is growing faster: +9.4% since 2020 vs -1.2%.
  • Commutes are shorter in Simi Valley (27 vs 43 minutes each way).

Side by side

Simi Valley, CATracy, CA
People
Population (2025)124,861101,901
Growth since 2020-1.2%+9.4%
People per square mile3,0053,869
Median age41.935.6
Bachelor's degree or higher39%29%
Money and housing
Median household income$122,081$121,119
Median home value$823,800$699,000
Home value to income6.7×5.8×
Median rent (with utilities)$2,579$2,478
Metro price level (US = 100)110.5105.1
Housing price level (US = 100)171.1115.6
$75,000 elsewhere equals$82,900$78,800
Homeowners73%65%
Top state income tax13.3%13.3%
Combined sales tax9.03%9.03%
Work and commute
Average commute (minutes)27.142.5
Work from home19%15%
Take public transit0%1%
Unemployment (2020-24 avg)5%5.5%
Poverty rate6.4%7.8%
Weather
January high / low70° / 43°56° / 41°
July high / low95° / 61°93° / 62°
Precipitation per year16 in12 in
Snowfall per year0 in0 in
Days 90°F or hotter11582
Nights below freezing1110
Comfortable months75
Risks, air and home prices
Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county)Relatively HighRelatively High
FEMA risk score (lower is safer)99.498.6
Good air days, 202552%60%
Home prices, past year-1.3%-1.8%
Home prices, past 5 years+28.7%+18.2%

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

40°50°60°70°80°90°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Simi Valley Tracy. Solid lines are average highs, dashed lines average lows (°F), NOAA 1991-2020 normals.

Most comfortable months: Simi Valley: October to January and March to May. Tracy: March to May and October to November.

Full monthly tables: Simi Valley weather by month and Tracy weather by month.

What $75,000 is worth

A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $82,900 in Simi Valley and $78,800 in Tracy. Moving from Simi Valley to Tracy, you would need about $71,300 to match a $75,000 salary.

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Moving between Simi Valley and Tracy

49people moved from Ventura County, CA to San Joaquin County, CA in a year
75moved 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 Simi Valley and Tracy.

Which would you pick?

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