Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 13 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ 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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $914/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $239k less ($321,800 vs $560,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $43,763/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,763 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fresno
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$239k less
$321,800 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$43,763
$106,764 vs $63,001/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
60% lower
293.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 9 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 Fresno to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $560,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.