Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 14 of 22 categories
Hesperia
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Vacaville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($337,600 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($1,436 vs $2,141)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $39,066/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,066 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$223k less
$337,600 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$39,066
$106,764 vs $67,698/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
44% lower
293.2 vs 519.6 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 14 of 22 categories. Hesperia wins 8 and Vacaville wins 14. 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 Hesperia to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $560,400 median home), income ($67,698 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 377 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.