Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 17 of 22 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Vacaville
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $677/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $71k less ($489,400 vs $560,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $37,036/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $37,036 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$71k less
$489,400 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$37,036
$106,764 vs $69,728/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
77% lower
293.2 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 17 of 22 categories. Compton wins 5 and Vacaville wins 17. 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 Compton to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $560,400 median home), income ($69,728 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.