Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($409,700 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $490/mo less ($1,651 vs $2,141)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $28,079/yr
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Vacaville, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Aurora
Households earn $28,079 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Aurora
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$151k less
$409,700 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$28,079
$106,764 vs $78,685/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
69% lower
293.2 vs 947.8 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Vacaville wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Aurora to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($78,685 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Vacaville, CA are about 929 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.