Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($321,800 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $298/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,525)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $10,625/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $10,625 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 98°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$82k less
$321,800 vs $403,400
Fresno
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$10,625
$73,626 vs $63,001/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
21% lower
582.3 vs 735.5 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 11 and Vancouver 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 Fresno to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $403,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.