Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Vallejo leads 12 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Vallejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $525/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,894)
25% less violent crime than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $21,993/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,993 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $67k less ($515,500 vs $582,400)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Cons
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
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
25% lower
558.4 vs 739.8 per 100k
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Income
$21,993
$86,112 vs $64,119/yr
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$67k less
$515,500 vs $582,400
Vallejo
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 12 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 10 and Vallejo 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 East Los Angeles to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $515,500 median home), income ($64,119 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.