Should I Move To
National City, California is home to about 56,345 people. On cost of living, it lands in the very expensive band — 39% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,504 a month against a typical household income of $59,850. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 29 out of 100 (grade F), putting it at #965 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
National City's composite cost-of-living index lands at 139 (100 = US average), which puts it in the very expensive band. At $1,504/mo against $59,850 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 30% of income on housing — a bit above the 30% rule, meaning housing is on the tight side for the median household. Median home value sits around $505,800.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is warm year-round — summer averages around 75°F, winter averages around 51°F. Precipitation totals about 10 inches a year. Walkability varies a lot by neighborhood — denser pockets work fine on foot, the rest leans on driving. AQI is in the moderate range at about 52.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
National City doesn't obviously fit families. The profile-weighted score is 24/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is walkability (68/100); the soft spot is education (6/100).
National City doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 35/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is walkability (68/100); the soft spot is education (6/100).
National City doesn't obviously fit remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 29/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is walkability (68/100); the soft spot is education (6/100).
National City doesn't obviously fit young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 32/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is walkability (68/100); the soft spot is education (6/100).
Our overall score for National City is 29/100 — a F, sitting at #965 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, National City sits at 139 — very expensive, 39% above the national average. Median renter pays around $1,504 a month.
National City runs warm year-round on the weather. Summer's near 75°F, winter's near 51°F; 10 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 68/100. Walkability varies a lot by neighborhood — denser pockets work fine on foot, the rest leans on driving.
Roughly 56,345 people live here, with 16% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 36.
Drop National City into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare National City with other California cities scored on UrbRank.
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