Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
15
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($227,200 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,141)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $52,324/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,324 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.4%)
25% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Bridgeport
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$333k less
$227,200 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$52,324
$106,764 vs $54,440/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
25% lower
293.2 vs 392.9 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.5% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories. Bridgeport wins 7 and Vacaville wins 15. 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 Bridgeport to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $560,400 median home), income ($54,440 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Vacaville, CA are about 2,563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.