Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($304,500 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,894)
27% less violent crime than Vallejo
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vallejo by $14,439/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 7.0%)
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,439 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
27% lower
539.8 vs 739.8 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$211k less
$304,500 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$14,439
$86,112 vs $71,673/yr
Vallejo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Vallejo
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 12 and Vallejo wins 11. 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 Chicago to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Vallejo, CA are about 1,836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.