Comparing San Antonio, Texas with Central Contra Costa, California reveals differences across several factors such as crime rates, cost of living, and weather conditions, among others, all of which can significantly influence one's experience living or visiting these places. From a warmer climate in San Antonio to the high living expenses in Contra Costa, there's a contrasting spectrum of experiences waiting for potential residents or tourists. Both cities offer unique charms in terms of culture, sports, and lifestyle.
In terms of crime, San Antonio's crime rate is higher than the national average, with property crime rates exceeding violent crime rates. However, the city has efforts underway to improve safety. Central Contra Costa, on the other hand, has a relatively low crime rate, making it safer compared to other cities in California. Both cities recommend taking usual urban precautions.
Cost of Living
The cost of living is significantly lower in San Antonio compared to Central Contra Costa. Housing is the biggest factor in this, with San Antonio offering affordable houses while housing costs in Contra Costa are among the highest in the nation. Food and transportation costs are also less in San Antonio.
Income Tax
There is no personal income tax in Texas, a relief for residents of San Antonio. Residents of Central Contra Costa, like all of California, pay state income tax that varies according to income level, reaching up to 13.3% for highest earners.
Property Tax
Property tax in San Antonio is around 1.92% of assessed home value, which is significantly higher than the national average. Property tax rates in Central Contra Costa vary by town, but are generally around the state average of 0.74%.
Sales Tax
Texas has a 6.25% state sales tax, and San Antonio has an additional 2%, for a total of 8.25%. California has a 7.25% state sales tax, but Central Contra Costa charges an additional amount, making the total sales tax around 8.25%-9.25%, depending on the city.
Income
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Estimated median household income
$54,923
$127,452
Estimated per capita income
$28,860
$68,702
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
87.7
139.1
If you make $50,000 in San Antonio, you will have to make $79,304 in Central Contra Costa to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
San Antonio is on a coastal plain to the southeast of the Texas Hill Country offering landscapes of rolling hills to flat coastal plains. Central Contra Costa is characterized by its picturesque rolling hills, valleys, and mountain ridges.
Geographical information
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Land area
407.6 sq. miles
261.3 sq. miles
Population density
3,562.3 people per sq. mile
1,863.4 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
San Antonio, TX Central Contra Costa, CA
Education
San Antonio has a large array of public, private, and charter schools, as well as several universities and colleges, including the University of Texas at San Antonio. Central Contra Costa boasts highly rated schools with smaller teacher-student ratios and consistently high test scores. They also have proximity to notable universities like UC Berkeley.
San Antonio's economy is centered around military, health care, government services, financial services, oil and gas, and tourism sectors. On the other side, Central Contra Costa's economy is a mix of healthcare, retail, professional, scientific, technical services, and manufacturing.
Biggest Employers
San Antonio's biggest employers are USAA, H-E-B, and the city's health system. In contrast, healthcare providers like Kaiser Permanente and John Muir Health, and school districts are the major employers in Central Contra Costa.
In San Antonio (Bexar County), 51.6% voted for Democrats and 47.1% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Central Contra Costa (Contra Costa County), 66.2% voted for Democrats and 31.1% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
2020
58.3%
71.8%
40.1%
26.4%
1.5%
1.8%
2016
54.2%
67.5%
40.8%
24.5%
5.0%
8.0%
2012
51.6%
66.2%
47.1%
31.1%
1.4%
2.7%
2008
52.3%
68.0%
46.7%
30.2%
1.0%
1.8%
2004
44.5%
62.6%
55.0%
36.7%
0.6%
0.7%
2000
44.9%
59.0%
52.3%
37.2%
2.7%
3.8%
1996
49.7%
55.7%
44.6%
35.2%
5.7%
9.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
CATHOLIC CHURCH
30.8%
21.8%
8.6%
5.2%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
6.8%
1.3%
23.5%
10.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
1.2%
1.0%
0.8%
1.4%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.7%
0.2%
1.0%
2.0%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.6%
0.5%
1.6%
2.3%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.6%
0.5%
2.2%
2.0%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.2%
0.3%
1.3%
1.5%
Weather
Weather-wise, San Antonio is semi-tropical with long, hot summers and mild winters, ideal for those who love warm weather. In contrast, Central Contra Costa has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, great for those preferring moderate temperatures.
Weather and climate
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Temperature - Average
68.7°F
59.1°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
74.9%
82.2%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
37%
29.3%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
87%
88.1%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
50%
58.8%
Precipitation - Yearly average
32.2 in
21.8 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
1.2 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
17.5%
27.7%
Sunshine amount - Average
62.4%
73.3%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
24%
22.4%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
72%
77.2%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
48%
54.7%
Wind speed - Average
8.9 mph
11.1 mph
Average climate in San Antonio, Texas
Average climate in Central Contra Costa, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
2018
83
105
N/A
0.32
4.9
6.9
25.6
22.1
0.012
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.0
13.3
0.2
0.6
2017
85
102
N/A
0.30
5.1
7.0
26.9
25.9
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.4
11.9
1.7
0.7
2016
79
86
N/A
0.28
5.2
6.5
25.7
25.2
0.005
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.2
6.5
0.8
0.8
2015
76
94
N/A
0.34
4.7
7.6
25.4
25.8
0.004
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.2
8.8
0.7
0.5
2014
84
95
N/A
0.35
5.5
7.8
27.3
25.2
0.005
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.5
6.9
0.6
0.5
2013
79
93
N/A
0.34
4.1
9.3
28.2
21.5
0.004
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.0
7.8
0.7
0.5
2012
77
93
N/A
0.32
4.5
8.5
27.5
25.2
0.003
N/A
18.1
N/A
9.2
8.3
N/A
0.3
2011
85
99
N/A
0.35
4.6
9.0
29.2
23.0
0.003
N/A
18.9
N/A
9.9
9.8
N/A
0.6
2010
75
93
0.21
0.31
7.2
8.6
25.8
23.2
0.014
N/A
17.1
N/A
9.2
8.5
N/A
0.5
2009
74
104
0.23
0.31
8.3
9.5
25.7
23.7
0.006
N/A
19.5
N/A
9.8
10.3
0.4
0.6
2008
84
120
0.26
0.36
9.3
10.2
26.8
26.1
0.006
N/A
19.8
N/A
10.1
12.1
0.5
0.8
2007
83
104
0.49
0.36
9.3
10.7
26.3
24.1
0.006
N/A
23.4
N/A
10.3
9.7
N/A
0.7
2006
86
109
0.51
0.39
9.7
10.9
32.7
26.0
N/A
N/A
24.8
N/A
9.8
11.1
N/A
0.8
2005
86
104
0.53
0.43
10.7
11.6
30.8
22.7
N/A
N/A
22.3
N/A
10.1
10.4
N/A
1.0
2004
76
112
0.48
0.46
10.4
12.4
29.6
22.6
0.004
N/A
22.4
N/A
N/A
11.9
N/A
1.1
2003
77
84
0.57
0.51
10.3
13.4
28.5
23.1
N/A
N/A
26.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.7
2002
88
88
0.52
0.51
11.2
14.7
30.3
23.3
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.9
2001
78
90
0.57
0.56
11.9
15.4
29.3
22.1
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.2
2000
82
95
0.52
0.67
11.7
15.9
29.6
20.8
0.013
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
Natural disasters
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
91.5%
9.4%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
73.7%
7,786.2%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
21%
18%
Transportation
San Antonio has a bus system, and bike and car sharing services. Commuting can be done by personal vehicle, with above average commute times. Central Contra Costa enjoys robust public transit with BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) providing connectivity to the Bay Area. Car is also widely used for commuting.
Transport
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
987
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
29
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Bicycle
0.2%
0.5%
Bus
1.6%
1%
Carpooled
12.9%
9.9%
Car alone
81.9%
72.3%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.2%
Railroad
0%
0.8%
Subway
0%
7.7%
Walked
1.6%
1.5%
Average travel time to work
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Average
27 min
31.8 min
Real Estate
San Antonio real estate is relatively affordable, with a mix of urban, suburban, and rural properties. Central Contra Costa’s real estate is expensive, given its location near San Francisco, and characterized by upscale suburban and rural properties.
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods in San Antonio range from historic areas like King William to more suburban settings like Stone Oak. Central Contra Costa is made up of upscale residential communities like Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Lafayatte, known for their quiet and family-friendly environment.
Houses and residents
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
Houses
603,670
183,777
Average household size (people)
2.7
2.5
Houses occupied
549,245 (91%)
179,136 (97.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
290,123 (52.8%)
127,889 (71.4%)
Houses occupied by renters
259,122 (47.2%)
51,247 (28.6%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,143
$2,527
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$189,213
$1,269,474
Estimated median house or condo value
$197,600
Over $1,000,000
Median number of rooms in apartments
4
4.3
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.2
6.5
Renting percentage
43.5%
30.3%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,481.2
703.4
Household income disparities
44.7%
35.9%
Housing units without a mortgage
5,815 (3.5%)
20,208 (18.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
6,350 (3.8%)
418 (0.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
160,674 (96.5%)
90,899 (81.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
129 (0.1%)
13,612 (12.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
7,761 (4.7%)
13,614 (12.3%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2.1%
0.5%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
46,328
22,217
State government workers
29,486
6,705
Unpaid family workers
657
617
Industries and Occupations
San Antonio is marked by diversity of industries including biosciences, aerospace, cybersecurity, and energy sectors. Central Contra Costa, in the Bay Area Silicon Valley, largely hosts tech companies with occupations focused on professional, scientific, and technical services.
San Antonio offers good healthcare with well-reputed systems like Methodist Healthcare and Baptist Health System. Central Contra Costa offers excellent healthcare facilities, with some of the nation's top hospitals like John Muir Health.
Health (county statistics)
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
San Antonio has a robust infrastructure, with several highways, international airport, and train services. Central Contra Costa boasts a well-developed transportation and technology infrastructure, necessary for its high-tech industries. Its proximity to San Francisco also provides it with excellent air connectivity.
Infrastructure
Type
San Antonio
Central Contra Costa
TV stations
30
24
Culture and Food
San Antonio is renowned for its Tex-Mex cuisine and hosts various festivals. Central Contra Costa offers food diversity with an international palate, and is home to a vibrant arts and culture scene with many museums, art galleries, and theaters.
Sports Teams
San Antonio is home to the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. While Central Contra Costa doesn’t have its own major league teams, it has close proximity to the sports teams of the San Francisco Bay Area, like the Golden State Warriors (NBA), the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), and the San Francisco Giants (MLB).
San Antonio, TX
Central Contra Costa, CA
San Antonio, TX and 
Central Contra Costa, CA : 1,468.7 miles
