Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
13
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $390k less ($170,700 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1146/mo less ($995 vs $2,141)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $44,386/yr
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,386 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Des Moines
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$390k less
$170,700 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$44,386
$106,764 vs $62,378/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
58% lower
293.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Vacaville wins 13. 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 Des Moines to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Vacaville, CA are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.