Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 16 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Vista
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
46% less violent crime than Vista
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 66°F
Households earn $6,855 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Vista, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $168/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,170)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Median income trails Boca Raton by $6,855/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$6,855
$95,570 vs $88,715/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
46% lower
171.0 vs 316.4 per 100k
Boca Raton
Median Home Value
$26k less
$597,100 vs $622,900
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 78.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.8 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 16 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 16 and Vista wins 6. 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 Boca Raton to Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $622,900 median home), income ($95,570 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Vista, CA are about 2,264 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.