Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 17 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($243,000 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,894)
16% less violent crime than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $21,974/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,974 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
16% lower
623.8 vs 739.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$273k less
$243,000 vs $515,500
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$21,974
$86,112 vs $64,138/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 17 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 17 and Vallejo wins 5. 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 Jacksonville to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($64,138 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Vallejo, CA are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.