Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Vacaville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($341,700 vs $560,400)
43% less violent crime than Vacaville
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,141)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $12,576/yr
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,576 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buckeye
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
43% lower
166.8 vs 293.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$219k less
$341,700 vs $560,400
Buckeye
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 95.0°F
Vacaville
Median Income
$12,576
$106,764 vs $94,188/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 14 and Vacaville wins 8. 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 Buckeye to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($94,188 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Vacaville, CA are about 623 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.