Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
12
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($312,800 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $742/mo less ($1,399 vs $2,141)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $32,694/yr
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Charlotte
Households earn $32,694 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Charlotte
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$248k less
$312,800 vs $560,400
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$32,694
$106,764 vs $74,070/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
60% lower
293.2 vs 733.2 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Vacaville wins 12. 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 Charlotte to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $560,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Vacaville, CA are about 2,268 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.